Opposition in assembly stages sit-in: Arrest of zamindars criticized
By Saleem Shahid
QUETTA, April 22: The opposition staged a sit-in on the floor of the house here on Thursday against the arrest of around 150 zamindars who wanted to demonstrate in front of the Balochistan assembly to press their demands.
It was the first time in the history of the assembly that opposition members staged a sit-in on the floor, announcing that they would not end protest until all the arrested people were released. However, Speaker Jamal Shah Kakar, presiding over the spring session of the provincial assembly, adjourned the house for 10 minutes.
Leader of the opposition Kachkol Ali Advocate informed the house during the question hour that police had rounded up over 150 zamindars who wanted to stage a protest demonstration in front of the assembly.
He strongly criticized the government for not allowing the people to use their democratic right. He said the opposition would also stage a walkout as protest against these arrests. When the speaker asked Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs Mir Abdul Rehman Jamali about the arrests, he told the house that he was not aware of the incident. The house would be informed later in this regard, he added.
Meanwhile, PPP leader Nawab Aslam Raisani and Sardar Sanaullah Zehri of the National Party stood up, announced that they would not sit till the release of all the zamindars. After this announcement all the opposition members, including women MPA Dr Shama Ishaq, left their seats and sit on the floor of the house.
They also protested over issuance of non-bailable warrants of Sardar Sanaullah Zehri and four other politicians by an anti-terrorist court in an old case. After the house was adjourned for 10 minutes, the opposition members went out of the assembly where zamindars headed by action committee chairman Taj Mohammad Agha chanted slogans against the government and in favour of their demands while sitting in prisoners vans. They were brought from a police station on the order of the chief minister.
After one-hour custody, the zamindars were released as city district Nazim Mohammad Kakar informed that he had relaxed the restriction of Section 144 for 30 minutes. Later, a delegation of zamindars headed by Taj Mohammad Agha met Chief Minister Jam Mir Mohammad Yousuf.
Opposition leader Kachkol Ali, Sardar Sanaullah Zehri, Nawab Aslam Raisani, Abdul Rahim Ziaratwal, Shafiq Ahmed, Rehmat Ali, Deputy Speaker Aslam Bhootani, provincial ministers Mir Abdul Rehman Jamali, Mir Shoaib Nausherwani and Asim Kurd were also present on the occasion.
The chief minister assured them that he would seek help from the federal government to resolve their problems. The issue of provision of tubewells would be discussed at the provincial cabinet meeting, he added.
Speaking on the occasion, Kachkol Ali said the opposition and treasury benches had joint stand about the development and problems of the people, and they would visit Islamabad for resolving the problems of zamindars.
The speaker adjourned the house till Saturday after very brief proceedings when the house resumed after two hours. The house on Thursday adopted a resolution against Israel's brutalities against Palestinians and killing of Hamas leader Abdul Aziz. The house offered fateha for him.
