November 12, 2006	Sunday	Shawwal 19, 1427

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QUETTA, Nov 11: In Balochistan Assembly’s Saturday session, treasury members praised the federal and provincial governments for taking measures to solve problems faced by the Balochistan people but the opposition members regretted that the government had failed to deliver.

Winding up a discussion on the completion of four years of the assembly, Chief Minister Jam Muhammad Yousuf urged the federal government to provide more funds to remove the backwardness of the province and provide civic facilities in its underdeveloped areas.

He declared that no compromise would be made on the restoration of writ of the government or with those elements who did not believe in sovereignty, solidarity and unity of the country. However, he said that his government believed in resolving the issues by political means instead of violent ones.

He regretted that some opposition parties severely criticized every policy of the government but never condemned the saboteurs who were targeting national assets and damaging electricity pylons, railway bridges and government buildings.

Mr Yousuf said that people should differentiate between criticizing government policies and working against national interests, adding that the government would welcome constructive criticism by the opposition members but would not permit the anti-state forces to play with the fate of the state.

The chief minister claimed that the treasury benches supported several resolutions and adjournment and privilege motions tabled by the opposition members and added that without their positive response, the opposition members would have faced difficulty to get the resolutions and motions passed.

He said the government also accommodated the opposition members in the allocation of funds despite financial constraints and the government resolved the issues pinpointed by the opposition members on the floor of the house.

He said that President Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat

Aziz had acknowledged the backwardness of Balochistan as this province was ignored in the past. However, he said, the present government during last six years had provided huge funds for mega projects in the province.

Speaker Jamal Shah Kakar thanked the members from both sides for extending cooperation to him in ensuring smooth running of the business of the house. He said that during last four years, he always tried his best to keep balance between treasury and opposition members to promote democratic values.

The speaker said that during last four years, 36 bills were presented,

261 resolutions tabled, 425 adjournment and privilege motions moved, 1405 questions asked and nine committees set up to submit reports on different issues.

Opposition members Abdur Rahim Ziaratwal and Dr Shama Ishaq complained that the government had failed to implement the resolutions adopted by the house and points raised in the adjournment motions.

Mr Ziaratwal said that the government had ignored the issues raised in the resolutions, including the demand to stop military operation in Balochistan, abandon construction of cantonments and grant Balochistan just share in the NFC award and autonomy to the federating units.

Dr Shama said that during last four years, the government had done nothing for the people -- like providing jobs to unemployment youths, controlling the unprecedented price hike or providing healthcare or education facilities to the far flung areas of the province -- except killing innocent people in the military operation.

Senior Minister Maulana Wasay, Finance Minister Syed Ehsan Shah, Minister for Welfare Shama Parveen Magsi, Deputy Speaker Mohammad Aslam Bhootani and Jaffar Khan Mandokhel also took part in the debate.

Earlier, the house adopted two resolutions of Minister for Agriculture

Maulvi Faizullah, Minister for Education Abdul Wahid Siddique and

MMA lawmaker Samina Saeed, pertaining to provision of funds to end water shortage in Loralai and the handing over of state land of vegetable market and bus stand in Satellite Town to the education department for construction of school and college.

The chair admitted two adjournment motions of Sardar Azam Musakhel for general debate. The house offered fateha for those killed in Bajaur and Dargai incidents. The session was adjourned till Monday.