19 December 2004	Sunday	06 Ziqa'ad 1425

ISLAMABAD, Dec 18: Parliamentary leader of the Democratic Alliance in Senate Mian Raza Rabbani has said it is a matter of regret and concern that the Balochistan National Party (BNP) has withdrawn from the parliamentary committee on Balochistan due to non-serious attitude of some government members in the committee.

Mr Rabbani, in a statement issued here on Saturday, said it showed that the PML government was not interested in resolving the political issues of the province.

He said the committee's chairman must realise that with the withdrawal of the BNP (Mengal) from the committee it was not only a serious set back but would also render the entire committee redundant.

It is to be recalled that this committee was formed through a resolution of both the houses and a deviation from the terms of reference specified therein will amount to contempt of the parliament, he added.

Mr Rabbani said this attitude of the government exposed its short-term policies, where in order to buy time it made a political gesture but then lacked the moral and political courage to find a lasting political solution. The failure of the government to deliver on this and other political initiatives has exposed it before the people, he added.

He said: "The Democratic Alliance in the Senate after consultation with its entire component parties will take a collective stand on the issue.

"In the meantime, I hope that the chairman of the committee will take steps immediately to redress the apprehensions of the BNP (Mengal)."