QUETTA: The Balochistan Assembly on Monday witnessed pandemonium when opposition members stood up and started chanting “vote ko izzat do” slogan while Finance Minister Mir Zahoor Ahmed Buledi moved a resolution in the house to condemn the Pakistan Democratic Movement for targeting the security establishment and other institutions at its public meetings.

Opposition members gathered in front of speaker Mir Abdul Qudoos Bizenjo who was presiding over the session.

The resolution against the opposition was declared passed by the chair. Asghar Khan Achakzai, who is parliamentary leader of the Awami National Party, which is part of the provincial government, opposed the resolution.

After the assembly session, opposition leader Malik Sikander Khan, Advocate, Nasarullah Zerey of the PkMAP and Mir Akhtar Hussain Langove of the BNP-Mengal demanded the resignation of the speaker alleging that he has lost confidence of the house by announcing that the resolution has been adopted without allowing the opposition to speak on it.

The resolution was moved by provincial ministers Sardar Saleh Bhootani, Sardar Yar Mohammad Rind, Mir Zahoor Ahmed Buledi, Mir Saleem Ahmed Khosa, Sardar Abdul Rehman Khetiran, Mir Zia Langove, adviser to the chief minister Abdul Khaliq Hazara and Parliamentary Secretary Mobeen Ahmed Khilji.

The resolution said the PDM in its public meetings in Gujranwala and Karachi targeted state institutions, which could not be tolerated by any Pakistani who is loyal to the country. It further said character assassination could not be part of any national political party. These political parties through such irresponsible attitudes were attempting to create misunderstanding among the people and state institutions.

The resolution, while presenting rich tributes to the Pak army and other state institutions for their sacrifices, strongly condemned the attitude of the elements who through such speeches want to misguide the nation and spread unrest.

“The people of Balochistan were standing with its army and state institutions,” the resolution added.

Published in Dawn, October 27th, 2020