QUETTA: The Balochistan Assembly on Friday witnessed members of the treasury and opposition benches locked in a heated debate over the special court’s judgement in the high treason case against former president retired Gen Pervez Musharraf.

The situation escalated when provincial Finance Minister Mir Zahoor Ahmed Buledi on a point of order began speaking on the detailed judgement of the special court.

Criticising his speech, opposition members Sanaullah Baloch and Akhtar Hussain Langove said that the court judgement could not be discussed in the house.

In the meantime, other members from both sides also joined the debate.

Speaker Mir Abdul Qudoos Bizenjo, who was presiding over the session, said the court judgement could be discussed in the house and allowed Mr Buledi to continue his speech.

However, minority member and parliamentary secretary for minority affairs Danesh Kumar walked out from the session over some remarks of opposition’s Akhtar Hussain Langove about his community.

Assembly adopts resolution on restoring student unions

Mr Langove then withdrew his remarks and Mr Kumar rejoined the session.

Despite the uproar in the house, Mr Buledi continued his speech and criticised the opposition members for not allowing him to speak in a democracy.

He said that the judgement against Gen Musharraf had jolted the country as he was not given a chance of fair trial.

“If someone is involved in any case, he should be given an opportunity to defend himself,” said the minister, adding that nobody was above the law and he was not opposing a trial against Mr Musharraf.

Meanwhile, the Balochistan Assembly adopted a resolution demanding restoration of student unions in educational institutions of the province.

The resolution was tabled by Sanaullah Baloch of the Balochistan National Party (BNP-Mengal).

Speaking on the resolution, Mr Baloch said that student unions had a profound role in cadre building of students.

“The government of Balochistan should contact the federal government for the restoration of student unions in the country,” he added.

He said that student unions produced great political leaders. “I myself am a product of BSO,” he added.

Nasarullah Zerey of the Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) said: “Ban on student unions will not bring fruitful results for future politics.” He demanded that unions be restored without any further delay.

However, provincial Minister for Public Health and Engineering Haji Noor Mohammad Dummar’s stance was not in favour of student unions.

He said educational institutions were not supposed to be a laboratory for political scientists. “Parents send their children for studies and not for taking part in politics,” he said.

Minister for Food and Social Welfare Sardar Abdul Rehman Khetiran also expressed reservations and said that the Supreme Court had imposed a ban on student unions.

However, he said that some rules and regulations should be adopted before student unions were restored.

Published in Dawn, December 21st, 2019