QUETTA, June 21: Opposition members staged a walkout from the provincial assembly on Monday when the speaker did not allow them to raise the issue of the arrest of two leaders of the National Party and the Balochistan National Party (Mengal) , who had been sentenced by a court in absentia.

Jan Mohammad Buledi of the National Party tried to raise through a point of order after the question hour the issue of the arrest of former minister Dr Malik Baloch of his party and Malik Abdul Wali Kakar of the BNP-M but Speaker Jamal Shah Kakar did not allow him to do so.

Abdur Rahim Ziaratwal of the Pukhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party said the members should be allowed to talk about the issue and opposition leader Kachkol Baloch insisted on discussing the matter but the speaker did not permit it. The opposition members walked out of the assembly in protest against the attitude of the speaker.

Malik Baloch, Wali Kakar and Balochistan Labour Federation President Khan Zaman were recently sentenced by an anti-terrorism court in absentia for not appearing to face charges in a case registered by the Gwalmandhi police for inciting people against the government.

Provincial Services and General Administration Minister Mir Abdur Rehman Jamali tabled the Balochistan Assembly Members' (salaries and allowances) (amendment) Bill 2004 for providing official residence, vehicle and Rs5,000 monthly fuel allowance to the leader of the opposition. The bill was exempted from Clause 84 of the Provincial Assembly Procedure of Business 1974.

The house passed a joint resolution moved by Health Minister Hafiz Hamadullah demanding that the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association executive committee restore the membership of the assembly.

The speaker disposed of an adjournment motion of the opposition leader relating to the killing of militant tribesman Nek Mohammed and eight others in a missile attack as the mover was not present.

A adjournment motion of Mr Buledi was also disposed of. The house offered Fateha for Pakistan People's Party leader Munawwar Hussain Suhrawardy. The session was adjourned till Wednesday, when Finance Minister Syed Ehsan Shah is scheduled to present the budget.