Shujaat accepts Baloch leaders' suggestion: Reconstruction of body
By Amir Wasim
ISLAMABAD, Oct 7: Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Balochistan Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain has accepted the demand of nationalist parties for reconstituting of the committee with more representation from the opposition, sources told Dawn.
The sources said that in the first meeting of the committee, held here on Thursday, leaders of nationalist parties expressed concern over the 'under-representation' of other opposition parties in the committee, particularly the ARD.
Chaudhry Shujaat said that he had no objection to enlarging the committee as long as it restricted its deliberations and recommendations to its terms of reference.
Mr Hussain also announced formation of two sub-committees, one headed by Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed to examine the current situation in Balochistan and the other headed by Leader of the House in Senate Wasim Sajjad for making recommendations for the promotion of inter-provincial harmony and protection of provinces' rights with a view to strengthening federation. The members have been asked to join the sub-committee of their own choice.
When contacted, Senator Mushahid Hussain said it had been decided that five more opposition members, two from the ARD and three from the MMA, would be included in the committee.
It may be mentioned that the Senate secretariat on Sept 29 announced the formation of the 29-member parliamentary committee on Balochistan with PML president Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain as its chairman. The committee was formed to implement 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 committee, according to the notification, shall be to examine the current situation in Balochistan and make recommendations before both the houses within 90 days.
Talking to Dawn, Balochistan National Party (BNP) Senator Sanaullah Baloch said the meeting of the committee was held in a good atmosphere and the treasury members showed good gesture by accepting the demand to give more representation to the opposition parties in the committee.
Mr Baloch said that he had suggested to the committee chairman that PPP Senator Raza Rabbani should also be included in the committee. About the charter of demand prepared by him for the first meeting, Mr Baloch said that now the same would be presented in the first meeting of the sub-committee on current situation of Balochistan. He said the first meeting of this sub-committee was scheduled to be held on Oct 11.
