QUETTA: The Balochistan Assembly referred on Monday two privilege motions moved by Minister for Planning and Development Dr Hamid Khan Achakzai and MPA Syed Agha Liaquat of PkMAP against allegations of a former additional chief secretary for planning and development to the committee concerned of the house.

They denied all allegations levelled against them by the former official as baseless and said his statement published in local newspapers had breached their privilege.

Former ACS Nasibullah Bazai had alleged in the statement that the minister had victimised him after he refused to work according to his will and desire.

While moving the privilege motion, Mr Achakzai said the ACS had not been attending the office for 10 days and had taken home all official files.

He said that taking official files and calling the department’s officials to the residence was illegal and against the rules and regulations. He said he had not victimised Mr Bazai and all his allegations were baseless.

He said the former ACS had written a letter to the chief minister, levelling the same allegations against him.

Mr Agha also moved a similar privilege motion in the house and said the former ACS had named him in the letter to the chief minister.

He said he had opposed the former official’s appointment in view of what he called his past corrupt reputation.

He requested the speaker to refer the matter to the privileges committee.

Sardar Abdul Rehman Khetran of the JUI-F and Majeed Khan Achakzai, who heads the Public Accounts Committee of the house, supported the motions and alleged that the former ACS was involved in massive corruption.

Mr Achakzai also criticised the role of the chief secretary and levelled corruption charges against him.

Taking part in the debate, Deputy Opposition Leader Zamarak Khan Piralizai said that the province was facing a serious impact of recent snowfall and heavy rains and people were still stranded in various areas, but the house was only discussing the former official’s statement.

He said he was not a supporter of the officer in question, but wanted to ask the assembly members as to why they were talking against the corrupt officer in the assembly now after the passage of three-and-a-half years.

Speaker Raheela Hameed Khan Durrani referred the matter to the privileges committee.

Some members criticised the National Highway Authority for doing nothing to reopen blocked highways.

“The NHA has failed to provide salt for melting the snow on the highways,” Nasarullah Zerey said.

Dr Hamid Achakzai said that despite the Met Office’s forecast of heavy snowfall and rains, the authorities concerned of Qesco, PDMA and Sui Southern Gas Company did nothing to cope with the situation.

He said that thousands of vehicles with passengers on board were stuck in various parts of the province and these institutions had done nothing to help them.

Published in Dawn January 17th, 2017