QUETTA: Raheela Hameed Khan Durrani was elected unopposed speaker of the Balochistan Assembly on Thursday. She became the first woman speaker of the provincial assembly.

Presiding officer Syed Liaquat Agha administered the oath to the new speaker.

The seat had been lying vacant since May following resignation by Jan Mohammad Jamali.

Earlier, the Balochistan Assembly unanimously elected Sanaullah Zehri as chief minister of the province. The chief minister, in his speech after taking oath of his office, said he would invite angry Baloch leaders to come to the negotiating table, but would never compromise on their “terrorist activities”.

Ms Durrani, who belongs to the PML-N, and Mufti Gulab Khan of the JUI-F had filed nomination papers for the post.

Later the presiding officer rejected the papers of Mufti Gulab Khan saying that he had filed them after the expiry of deadline.

Following rejection of nomination papers of Mufti Gulab Khan, Ms Durrani was declared elected unopposed as speaker.

But leader of the opposition Maulana Abdul Wasey claimed at a news conference that the JUI-F had withdrawn its candidate in favour of Ms Durrani because “we wanted to get her elected as a consensus speaker”.

Ms Durrani was elected member of the Balochistan Assembly on a seat reserved for women in the 2013 general election.

She has been elected to the assembly thrice and served as a provincial minister in the Aslam Raisani cabinet from 2008 to 2013.

Ms Durrani is a law graduate and started her career as a journalist working for a local English daily. She also practises as a lawyer in the Balochistan High Court.

Sanaullah Zehri takes oath as chief minister

In her speech after taking oath of office, she said it was a great honour for her to become the first woman speaker of the Balochistan Assembly.

“I attribute my success to my mother and other mothers of Balochistan,” she said.

Ms Durrani said she would fulfil her responsibility according to rules of business. “I will raise the dignity and honour of the house with the help and cooperation of members,” she added.

She expressed the hope that members of he assembly belonging to both treasury and opposition benches would cooperate with her in running the house smoothly.

Former chief minister Dr Abdul Malik Baloch congratulated the new speaker and assured her that his party would cooperate with her in running the house according to democratic traditions.

He expressed the hope that as custodian of the house Ms Durrani would take steps that would increase the honour of the house.

He said by electing a female candidate as speaker members of the assembly have showed that they had great honour for women.

Chief Minister-designate Nawab Sanaullah Zehri said the credit for electing a female candidate for the speaker’s post went to the people Balochistan who traditionally had great honour for woman.

He said the entire house and the collation government would support efforts of the speaker she would make to enhance the honour and dignity of the house.

Leader of the opposition Maulana Abdul Wasey expressed the hope that Ms Durrani would not adopt discriminatory attitude with members of the opposition as done by the pervious speaker and government while setting up standing committees. He assured full cooperation to the speaker.

ZEHRI: In his speech Sanaullah Zehri said he would not tolerate terrorism any more in the province. “ We are ready for talks but would not tolerate terrorism and target killings of the innocent people.”

He said his chief ministership was a result of the sacrifices rendered by the army, FC, police, levies and the civilians who were targeted in Balochistan.

He said that he would give special priorities to three major issues including law and order, corruption and unemployment. “If law and order is improved and good governance is made, the natural resources rich Balochistan would attract huge local and foreign investment,” he said.

Referring to Hazara community of Quetta, he said that Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif has specially instructed him to ensure protection of life and property of Hazara people. He said that his government would also provide protection to minorities including Christians and Hindus living in Balochistan.

“Christians and Hindus have been living with us for last several centuries. They have suffered woes due to abduction for ransom,” he said, adding that but now they would be given protection.

He demanded not using word of settler for people living in Balochistan. “All people living in Balochistan whether they speak any language , they should be taken as Balochitsani and not settler,” he said.

He said that He would give special attention towards the sectors, especially education and heath. “A large number of doctors and teachers have been drawing their salaries while they have not been attending their duties at their work places,” he said. Nawab Zehri warned that now the doctors and teachers would have to perform their duties at their work places. He said that some government doctors and teachers have been involved in politics which is a bad trend.

Referring to China-Pak Economic Corridor (CPEC), he said that Prime Minister, Muhammad Nawaz Sharif is likely to visit Balochistan to inaugurate western route of CPEC in Zhob which later would be connected to its Khuzdar and Gwadar portions. “The two way western route of CPEC would be later developed to three lane at both sides,” he said.

He said the government was going to establish two major industrial zones along CPEC in Zhob and Khuzdar while small industrial zones along CPEC would also be established in different areas. “The government is going to acquire 10,000 acres of land in Zhob to establish Industrial zone along CPEC,” he said, adding that such industrial zones would provide jobs to million of people, helping in resolving unemployment issue.

He said that about 2.5 million acres of land are used for agriculture purpose in Nasirabad division of Balochistan. “We will allocate funds in next budget for establishing an agriculture university in Nasirabad,” he said. He said that work on Kachhi and Pat Feeder canals would be excelrated.

He said that he would continue policies of Dr. Abdul Malik in different sectors including health, education and law and order. “I will complete uncompleted projects launched by Dr. Abdul Malik Baloch government,” he said.

He said that law and order situation has been improved due to the efforts to Dr. Abdul Malik Baloch government, military and law enforcement agencies, adding that further improvement would be brought in this regard.

Referring to issued pertaining to the provincial capital. he said that Quetta city is our face which has been facing several problems, especially acute water scarcity, very poor condition of sewerage system and roads. “I have suggestions to meet water need of Quetta which include constructing big tanks or constructing dams on Bolan water to provide water to Quetta through pipeline.

Published in Dawn, December 25th, 2015