March, 16 2005	Wednesday	5 Safar 1426

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QUETTA, March 15: The opposition in Balochistan assembly on Tuesday staged walkout when the speaker disallowed an adjournment motion on deployment of regular troops in Sui and an uncertain situation in Dera Bugti.

The first day of the session summoned after five months witnessed an uproar and exchange of hot words between members of the treasury and the opposition benches on various issues.

Deputy speaker Mir Aslam Bhootani, who chaired the proceedings after evening prayer, disposed of the adjournment motion tabled by opposition leader Kachkol Baloch. The deputy speaker said the home minister had given assurance that no military operation would be conducted in Sui. Besides, he said, the opposition members had already expressed their views while speaking on admissibility of the motion. The motion was liable to be disposed of.

The ruling angered the mover and other opposition members and they staged a walkout to lodge protest against the decision of the chair. Due to the walkout the second adjournment motion on police raids in Marri Camp could not be tabled.

Earlier the opposition leader, while speaking on the admissibility of the motion, alleged that regular troops had invaded Sui which had created uncertainty in the Dera Bugti. He said the action reflected undemocratic approach on the part of the federal government that wanted to settle political issues by force.

Mr Kachkol said the government should have contacted Nawab Akbar Bugti, instead of deploying tanks, armoured vehicles and gunship helicopters, to politically resolve the Sui issue. He was critical of the provincial cabinet that asked the federal government to deploy regular troops to protect sensitive assets and said the Balochistan government should have used paramilitary forces, police and levies to safeguard gas installations.

Home Minister Mir Shoiab Nausherwani, while opposing the motion, announced that the government had no plan to launch military operation in Sui and that deployment of army units was aimed at protecting gas pipelines. He said the cabinet had no option but to ask the federal government to station troops in view of rocket attacks on gas installations, as the provincial government forces could not effectively counter saboteurs who used sophisticated weapons.

Mr Shoiab asserted that the government, from the first day, was in contact with Nawab Bugti and other tribal chiefs to tackle the issue through dialogues. Besides, he said, the security forces were clearly directed to respect local traditions.

Haji Juma khan Bugti, parliamentary leader of the JWP, cautioned the government that an unwise act could lead to national disaster.

Mir Akbar Mengal, parliamentary leader of BNP-Mengal, said that establishment of cantonments or construction of controversial dam would create complications, therefore, the rulers must avoid confrontation and should try to resolve these issues politically. He said the government had always used army to safeguard interests of the Punjab at the cost of oppressed nationalities.

Abdur Rahim Ziaratwal, parliamentary leader of PMAP, said that neither the provincial assembly nor any son of soil knew about the income of Sui gas or day to day production of gas at Sui. He said colonial forces wanted to deprive the local population of its resources.

A privilege motion of Ziaratwal, Sardar Azam Musakhel and Naseem Turyalai that related to committee formed in the house on August 16 2004 to remove grievances of opposition members in PSDP was also disposed of and its movers and the treasury benches accepted a proposal of the opposition leader that committee should be revived and chief minister should head it to resolve the issue amicably.