QUETTA: The Balochistan Assembly adopted on Saturday two resolutions condemning the assassination of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl leader Dr Khalid Mehmood Soomro, suicide attack on JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, killing of four health workers in Quetta and the murder of a Christian couple in Punjab.

The resolutions expressed concern over the law and order situation in the country.

The assembly’s session was presided over by Deputy Speaker Mir Quddus Bizenjo.

Chief Minister Dr Abdul Malik Baloch said that the murder of Dr Soomro was a tragedy for the nation. He said Dr Soomro had played important role in the Senate for strengthening of democratic institutions.

The chief minister was speaking on a joint resolution tabled by Leader of Opposition Maulana Wasay.

He emphasised the need for unity to fight terrorism and sectarianism and to restore peace in the country.

Members from both sides of the house, including Maulana Wasay and William John Barkat, spoke on the resolutions.

They said that nation was confronted with terrorism which had claimed thousands of innocent lives.

They said differences among political parties had aggravated the security situation in the country. Political leaders should join hands to frustrate the design of elements working against the country’s solidarity and integrity, they added.

The lawmakers condemned the murder of Dr Soomro and the suicide attack on the JUI chief in Quetta on Oct 23 and called for the arrest of people involved in the two incidents.

They also condemned the attack on a team of polio vaccinators in Quetta which left four health workers dead and the lynching of a Christian couple in Kot Radha Kishan near Lahore.

Opposition members and two ministers, Sardar Sanaullah Zehri of PML-N and Jaffar Mandokhel of PML-Q, were critical of the law and order situation in Balochistan. They said the coalition government did not come to the expectation of people as far as improving the security situation was concerned.

Those who spoke were Abdur Rahim Ziaratwal, Rehmatullah Baloch, Sardar Aslam Bizenjo, Sardar Abdur Rehman Khetran, Shahida Rauf, Zamarak Khan Achakzai, Dr Hamid Khan Achakzai, and Mir Asim Geelo.

The session was adjourned until Dec 6.

Published in Dawn, November 30th , 2014