ISLAMABAD: Agha Syed Muhammad Raza, Balochistan’s law minister and one of the movers of the no-trust motion against then chief minister Nawab Sanaullah Zehri, on Sunday criticised those who were describing the in-house change in the province as an undemocratic process. He said the change in the province was a reaction to what he called ill-conceived policies of Mr Zehri.

Mr Raza, who belongs to Majlis Wahdatul Muslimeen (MWM), was addressing a press conference held at the party’s central secretariat here after a meeting of the party. He was accompanied by MMW secretary general Allama Nasir Abbas.

The MWM’s central leadership held this meeting with Mr Raza and Salima Bibi, member of Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) Council.

“Those who are linking the change in Balochistan with the upcoming Senate elections are trying to deceive the masses,” Mr Raza said.

He accused Mr Zehri of not taking all members of the assembly on board on the wider development agenda for the province. “There is no other reason behind the change in Balochistan except for the fact that he provided funds only for few areas and through limited families,” he added.

Mr Raza said he and some other members of the assembly wanted that development activities should have been held across the board and without any discrimination.

He said the new government in Balochistan had started providing development funds for all areas of the province. He expressed confidence that a transparent distribution of funds would help eradicate corruption in the province.

Speaking on the occasion, Allama Abbas accused GB Chief Minister Hafiz Hafeezur Rehman of being involved in corruption and said a move had begun to remove him from the post.

He also accused Mr Rehman of calling GB people ‘agents of India’ and depriving them of their rights.

The MWM secretary general challenged the GB chief minister’s own patriotism.

Hr alleged that Mr Rehman was distracting the general opinion by categorising those who raised voice for their rights as agents of the enemy’s agency.

“Like Balochistan there is a need for an in-house change in GB,” he said adding, “And here too the chief minister is misusing his authority.”

Allama Abbas also criticised the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz government in Punjab and demanded justice for victims of the Model Town police action.

Published in Dawn, January 22nd, 2018