Cracks appear in Balochistan coalition govt‏

Published November 20, 2014
Chief Minister of Balochistan, Dr Abdul Malik Baloch speaks to Balochistan Assembly. – Online/File
Chief Minister of Balochistan, Dr Abdul Malik Baloch speaks to Balochistan Assembly. – Online/File

QUETTA: Cracks appeared in the Balochistan government on Thursday as opposition and some members of treasury benches lashed out at Chief Minister Dr Abdul Malik Baloch for what they claimed were the CM's discriminatory attitude towards coalition partners.

Speaking at a joint press conference, legislators from then ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) criticised the Baloch nationalist-led government in the province.

"Our ministers and members are being ignored in terms of development funds," Abdul Qudoos Bizenjo, the Deputy Speaker Balochistan Assembly who also belongs to PML-Q told a hurriedly called press conference.

Bizenjo was flanked by PML-N minister Mir Izhar Hussain Khosa and Samina Khan during the press conference.

They complained that the National Party (NP) and Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) were calling the shots and that the other coalition partners were being ignored in all policy matters and development projects.

"CM Secretariat is no go area for us," Samina Khan claimed and said that only NP workers were being allowed to enter into the CM Secretariat.

Meanwhile, Spokesman Government of Balochistan Jan Buledi, who also belongs to the NP, preferred not to comment on the remarks of the PML-N legislators.

"I am not in a position to comment on their reservations," Buledi told Dawn.com.

Opposition leader Maulana Wasey who belongs to Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) has also demanded that the Balochistan chief minister get a vote of confidence from the house in the aftermath of recent cracks in the coalition government.

PML-N Balochistan President Nawab Sanaullah Zehri has also expressed his reservations about the Dr. Malik Baloch led-government in the province.

Read more: Balochistan coalition govt‏ has differences: Zehri

On Thursday, 18 opposition and some treasury members submitted a re-requisition in Balochistan Assembly to call the session and debate for what it called was the worsening law and order situation in the province.

"Nationalists government has failed to improve the law and order situation in Balochistan," Izhar Khosa said.

He complained that CM Secretariat was turned into an office of the NP where he claimed the workers and legislators of coalition partners were being ignored.

From day one, PML-N legislators have not been feeling comfortable with Baloch and Pashtun nationalists-led government in Balochistan.

"They imposed minority on majority," Home Minister Balochistan Sarfaraz Bugti once said.

Differences among the coalition partners caused delay in formation of cabinet in Balochistan.

The cabinet was formed six months after the oath taking of Dr Malik Baloch as chief minister.

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