QUETTA: The Baloch­istan Assembly adopted a resolution on Saturday seeking an increase in the national and provincial assembly seats of the province in view of its population shown in the recent census.

Adviser to the Chief Minister Dur Mohammad Nasar tabled the resolution in the house.

In the resolution, Mr Nasar said that according to the recent census, the country’s population had gone up by around 20 per cent so increasing the number of seats of national and provincial assemblies was need of the hour.

Provincial govt asked to approach centre on the issue

He said the Balochistan government should app­roach the federal government to take steps ensure delimitation of national and provincial assembly constituencies in the province.

Former chief minister Dr Abdul Malik Baloch said that increasing seats of Balochistan in the National Assembly was badly needed He suggested that the members of the Nat­i­onal Assembly and Senate from Balochistan should launch a campaign in this regard.

Deputy opposition leader in the assembly Zamarak Khan Piralizai underlined the need for making all-out efforts for increasing Balochistan’s seats in the National Assembly.

He suggested that after new delimitations Quetta’s seats in the National Assembly should go up from one to four.

Majeed Khan Achakzai of the PkMAP said that he was not satisfied with the census results of Pakhtun areas as a large numbers of ID cards were blocked and people could not take part in the census.

Abdul Rehman Khetiran said that even after increasing a few seats in the National Assembly, the voice of Balochistan would not get heard.

Minister Hamid Khan Achakzai also expressed reservation over the census result of Pakhtun areas. He said all parties from Balochistan should take a joint stand on the issue.

Provincial minister Jaffar Khan Mandokhel suggested that all provinces should be given equal number of NA seats on the pattern of the Senate.

Speaking on the resolution, Opposition leader Maulana Abdul Wasey praised Mr Nasar for tabling the resolution and urged the speaker to constitute a committee representing all political parties for evolving a joint formula for enhancing the seats and other issues of the province.

Mir Asim Kurd, Agha Raza and provincial minister Abdul Rehman Ziaratwal also spoke on the resolution.

Speaker Raheela Durr­ani announced formation of a committee headed by her and said that names of other members of the committee would be announced later.

Published in Dawn, October 29th, 2017