QUETTA: Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Kamal Khan Alyani on Thursday said opposition parties could play an important role for the development and progress of the country.

He said the role of the opposition in a parliamentary democracy was very significant.

The chief minister said in a statement that the best way an opposition could deliver to a nation was to highlight weakness in governance being the part of standing committees, suggest legislations and policies to the government and address grievances and needs of the public with strategies.

He said the role of opposition parties could not be ruled out in the proper and smooth functioning of democracy and they could act as a watchdog and keep a vigilant eye on the functioning of government.

“They have to perform a two-fold function – one to place the matters of public interest before the government for action and two, to keep a check on the dictatorial and authoritarian actions of the government,” he said.

Mr Alyani said that the inaction of opposition parties could lead to dictatorship of the ruling party as the opposition made the function of the government truly democratic since it checked the misuse of power and authority by the party in power.

“Like the party in power, opposition parties do have their ideologies, programmes and policies, which they try to sell to the people. Through motions, resolutions and bills in the legislature, they strive for implementation of their programmes which according to them are in the interest of the people.

“They oppose all such measures of the party in power which they consider unjust and anti-people. In addition, they expose the misdeeds of the government.

“Lapses on the part of government, corruption, favouritism, nepotism and bureaucratic inefficiency are the main targets of opposition,” he said.

The chief minister said that on vital national and international issues, the opposition parties started a public debate, mobilised public opinion, organised public meetings, rallies and demonstrations and tried to force the government to accept their viewpoint. “Their ultimate aim is to capture power by ousting the party in power. Thus, we can say that the chief function of the opposition is to propose, oppose, expose and depose,” he said.

He said during the hours of crisis and national emergency, the opposition parties were expected to extend full support to the official efforts.

Published in Dawn, November 13th, 2020