ISLAMABAD, Aug 7: The government on Monday claimed it had restored its writ throughout Balochistan, but the combined opposition differed. Opposition members staged a walkout in protest against what they called a failure of Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao to address the issues raised in the house during the three-day debate.
The house unanimously adopted a resolution, moved by MMA ’s Dr Kausar Firdaus, demanding effective measures to control beggary in the country.
Winding up the debate on an adjournment motion moved by Leader of the Opposition in the Senate Mian Raza Rabbani and others on Thursday, the interior minister termed as baseless the number of detentions/disappearances and claimed that only 26 people were arrested in the province two days back.
As the minister finished his speech, the opposition leader challenged him to reply to the queries of lawmakers which included two lists of Human Rights Commission of Pakistan one with 30 names and the other with 51 names of those who had disappeared in Balochistan.
Mr Sherpao said that the administrative control in Dera Bugti, Kohlu and Sui had been regained and life was fast returning to normalcy.
He said the majority of the people of Balochistan supported the development plans and just a handful of the people were opposing the mega projects and creating law and order situation.
The minister said that those who blamed the government of committing human rights violations should see to the large number of casualties inflicted on innocent people by laying land mines, killing people by using heavy armoury including missiles and rockets.
He said huge cache of arms and ammunition was seized only a few days ago which include 64 guns, 67 rockets, boxes filled with currency and two tons of explosives.
Mr Sherpao said Dera Bugti, Kohlu, Mawand and Kahan towns were mostly cleared of miscreants and the remaining few would also be flushed out in due course of time.
Responding to the opposition’s demand of initiating dialogue, the minister said the government had used the option at the initial stage but the opponent party failed to fulfil the agreements reached with the government.
MMA Senator Prof Khurshid said Mr Sherpao had failed to address any of the opposition’s queries pointed out in the debate. He said he received two letters at the same time one was invitation for a task force on Balochistan meeting under prime minister’s chairmanship while the other was of its cancellation.
Minister for inter-provincial coordination Salim Saifullah Khan said the government had implemented 30 out of the 35 recommendations made by the Mushahid sub-committee report on Balochistan. He said the meeting which was postponed would be held on Aug 11.
PML-N Senator Saadia Abbasi said use of the might could do no good to the country and asked the government to immediately enter into dialogue after halting army operation in Balochistan.
Dr Tahir Mashadi of the MQM criticised the policy of repression saying that the picking up of politicians or their relatives by agencies would destroy the good work of the government.
He urged the government to immediately release the people picked up by any agency to restore its image of good governance.
