30 September 2004	Thursday	14 Shaban 1425

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ISLAMABAD, Sept 29: The Senate secretariat on Wednesday issued a notification announcing the formation of a 29-member parliamentary committee on Balochistan with Pakistan Muslim League (PML) president and former prime minister Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain as its chairman.

According to the notification, the committee has been formed by the Senate chairman in consultation with the National Assembly Speaker and parliamentary leaders of other parties. The committee has been formed in pursuance of the resolutions, passed by the Senate and National Assembly in their sittings held on Sept 23 and 24, respectively.

The terms of reference of the parliamentary committee, according to the notification, shall be to examine the current situation in Balochistan and make recommendations before both the houses within 90 days.

The committee has also been given the task of making recommendations for promotion of inter-provincial harmony and protection of the provinces' rights with a view to strengthening the federation.

Interestingly, the committee comprises 10 MNAs and 19 senators despite the fact that the strength of the National Assembly is almost three times higher than the Senate. Moreover, the committee consists of 19 treasury and 10 opposition members.

It may be mentioned that Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, during his short tenure as prime minister, had announced on the floor of the Senate that a committee would be formed to review the situation in Balochistan.

Mr Hussain made the announcement when several opposition members, belonging to Balochistan, delivered fiery speeches and accused the military government of launching an unannounced military operation in the province.

The nationalist leaders, belonging to the province, are also agitating against the government's decision to set up cantonments in the province. The first meeting of the committee will be held on October 5 at the Parliament House.

The members of the committee are: MNAs Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain (chairman), Mehmood Khan Achakzai, Maulana Mohammad Khan Sheerani, Makhdoom Amin Fahim, Al-Syed Abdul Qadir Jamaluddin Al-Gillani, Ghulam Hyder Samejo, Minister for Social Welfare and Special Education Zobaida Jalal, Minister for States and Frontier Regions Sardar Yar Mohammad Rind, Dr Noor Jehan Panezai, Sardar Mohammad Yaqoob Khan Nasir and Senators Maulana Samiul Haq, Sanaullah Baloch, Amanullah Kanrani, Wasim Sajjad, Saeed Ahmed Hashmi, Mushahid Hussain Syed, Asfandyar Wali, Ayaz Khan Mandokhel, Mohammad Sarwar Khan Kakar, Raza Mohammad Raza, Mouhim Khan Baloch, Wali Mohammad Badini, Mohammad Aslam Buledi, Minister for Ports and Shipping Babar Ghouri, Mohammad Ali Brohi, Khalilur Rahman, Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Resources Nasir Mengal, Kalsoom Perveen and Pari Gul Agha.