September 16, 2006	Saturday	Sha'aban 22, 1427

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ISLAMABAD, Sept 15: A tame debate on Balochistan’s situation continued in the Senate on Friday as only Senator Liaquat Bangulzai of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal spoke before the session was adjourned till Monday.

Talking of the sense of deprivation among the people of Balochistan in all fields of life and ‘usurpation’ of their resources by the centre, he said none of the objectives for which the country had been created had been achieved.

He ridiculed the talk of women’s rights in isolation, and said that gross human rights violations were the order of the day under the current government.

He condemned the killing of former governor of Balochistan Nawab Akbar Bugti by the army after trapping him in mountains and said a sagacious statesman had been eliminated.

He said a large number of Baloch people were languishing in jails without any charge and they needed to be released immediately.

He said the people of the province needed to be taken into confidence and a government competent enough to lead the nation put in place in the centre as well as in Balochistan.

Leader of the Opposition in the House Raza Rabbani tried to draw attention of the house towards police raids and picking up of political workers in Lyari, Malir and other areas of Karachi.

He said a security agency had picked up two brothers of MNA Ijaz Jakhrani and demanded that the interior ministry clarify the situation.

Enwar Baig of the People’s Party Parliamentarians asked the chair to constitute a committee to investigate allegations of corruption in awarding Haj contracts to tour operators by Religious Affairs Minister Ijazul Haq.

He pointed out that the issue had been raised by MNA Amjad Warraich, who insisted that he had proof of the minister’s involvement in graft.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Dr Sher Afgan informed the house that the matter had been taken up by the National Assembly speaker, saying that it was up to him to decide about constituting a committee in this regard.