QUETTA, June 27: The Balochistan Assembly passed Rs35.08 billion grants for the budget of the fiscal year 2003-04 but rejected 22 cut motions presented by opposition members on Friday.

During the budget debate, the Senior Minister Maulana Wasay and the opposition benches criticized President Gen Pervez Musharraf for defaming the political groups to retain his powers.

Finance Minister Syed Ehsan Shah presented 29 demands for grants of Rs26.18 billion for non-development expenditure and five grants of Rs8.9 billion for development expenditure.

The senior minister, winding up the debate on the budget, assured the house that a committee comprising members from both the sides would give proposals about the public sector development programme and address the complaints of the opposition.

He said the people were confronted by the Legal Framework Order that empowered an army general to dictate the politicians.

He said the president was exploiting the divisions among the political groups.

The finance minister assured the assembly that the provincial government would not compromise on the issues of fresh National Finance Commission award and the gas development surcharge.

Opposition leader Kachkol Ali Baloch condemned the United States for looting the resources of the poor countries and supporting military rulers to accomplish its agenda of exploitation.

Abdur Rahim Ziaratwal of the Pukhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party and Revenue Minister Mir Asim Kurd also spoke.—Correspondent