QUETTA: Coalition partners in the Balochistan government expressed on Wednesday dissatisfaction over the law and order situation, saying that law-enforcement agencies had failed to curb terrorist attacks, targeted killings, kidnappings for ransom and robberies in the province.

During a session of the Balochistan Assembly held with Speaker Mir Jan Mohammad Jamali in the chair, provincial minister Nawab Ayaz Khan Jogezai, deputy speaker Mir Quddus Bizenjo and treasury members Mir Asim Kurd, Majid Abro, Ruqiya Hashmi and Manzoor Kakar of PML-N and the Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party expressed concern over what they called inappropriate steps taken by the government to tackle terrorists challenging the writ of the state.

They said law and order was a serious problem but people by giving them votes had reposed confidence in them to improve the situation and “if we can’t do [improve] it then we have no right to remain in the government”.

They claimed that terrorists were being protected and anyone who raised his voice against them was eliminated.

The PML-N members said 37 people had been killed in Bolan but not a single arrest had been made. Similarly, they said, those kidnapped had been freed only after payment of ransom and alleged that police officials attended dinner functions hosted by dacoits.

The opposition members watched in amazement as treasury members criticised their own government on the issue of law and order in the province.

The lawmakers of ruling PML-N and its ally PkMAP said “we must be on the same page and take effective action against terrorism and give relief to people”.

The house will meet on Thursday.

Published in Dawn December 11th , 2014