QUETTA: Defending the recent change in the provincial government, ministers and members of the Balochistan Assembly on Thursday rejected allegations that the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) or the Pakistan Muslim League-Q (PML-Q) had played an important role and spent money in this regard.

Speaking at a joint press conference, Sardar Mohammad Saleh Bhootani, Mir Jan Mohammad Khan Jamali, provincial ministers Sarfaraz Bugti, Ghulam Dastagir Badini, Haji Akbar Askani, Tahir Mehmood and Mir Aamir Rind, adviser on information Anwarul Haq Kakar, MPA Mohammad Khan Lehri, former senator Saeed Ahmed Hashmi and former provincial minister Faiq Jamali termed all speculations and allegations made by some leaders of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz frivolous and baseless.

They said an ‘ethnic party’ had formed the coalition government and made former chief minister Nawab Sanaullah Zehri hostage during his entire tenure. That was the main cause of revolt against the Zehri-led government, they added.

They alleged that the previous government had under the influence of the ‘ethnic party’ ignored legitimate demands and rights of the legislators.

They said they would contest the next general elections under the banner of a ‘unified Muslim League’ or any of the PML factions.

“We are not going to join any federal-level political party,” they said, refuting rumours that certain members of the Balochistan Assembly are going to join the PPP.

They claimed that over Rs15 billion provided by the federal government and around Rs20bn provincial fund had lapsed because of maladministration, inefficiency and corruption of the ‘ethnic party’.

The process of development had stopped, causing a sense of deprivation among the people of Balochistan, they said, adding: “We had informed the federal government about it, but it took no notice.”

They said the new government had taken notice of recent recruitments in the provincial information department where political constituents were given jobs by violating merit.

Saleh Bhootani, a former caretaker chief minister, alleged that the Asian Development Bank’s funds were being used in the construction of roads in Balochistan, but unfairly credit was being given to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.

Mir Jan Jamali, another former chief minister, said the government should hold a judicial inquiry into the misuse of public and development funds.

Published in Dawn, January 19th, 2018