QUETTA: Presentation of the annual budget for Balochistan for the fiscal year 2022-23 was delayed for another day reportedly after some details could not be finalised on Monday.

However, there were also reports that certain ruling party MPAs had objected to the allocation of massive funds for the development schemes of a senior minister.

The budget session was postponed after Chief Minister Mir Abdul Qudoos Bizenjo sent a summary to the acting governor at the eleventh hour to delay the session by one day.

Such a situation has rarely ever occured in the past in the parliamentary history of Balochistan that a scheduled budget session has been deferred. Earlier, the finance department had fixed June 17 for presenting the budget, but two days ago, a fresh date was announced.

On Monday, assembly staff had completed all arrangements required for the budget session, but the house secretary was informed at a around 11am that the session had been put off for a day, and would now be held on June 21 (today).

Conflicting reports suggest postponement was either due to PSDP not being finalised, or result of MPAs’ objections on development funds

Acting Governor Mir Jan Muhammad Khan Jamali, after receiving the summary from the chief minister, issued a fresh notification for the budget session, which was sent to the assembly secretary.

There were conflicting claims as to why the session was postponed at the last moment. As per one report, there was some confusion over the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) allocation. “The chief minister and all other ruling party members were busy till late night due to which the PSDP could not be reviewed for giving it a final touch,” Balochistan Assembly Speaker Mir Jan Muhammad Khan Jamali told Dawn, adding the members suggested the budget session be postponed for a day.

He further said a smaller development budget allocation had been proposed, while some MPAs had demanded a threefold increase, which was why the government was facing difficulties in finalising the PSDP for 2022-23.

However, some sources said the budget session was postponed following reservations of some ruling party MPAs over the allocation of huge funds for the development schemes of senior minister Noor Muhammad Dummar, who had been assigned the finance portfolio after the no-confidence motion against Chief Minister Bizenjo failed. The portfolio was later withdrawn a few days ago and additional charge given to Sardar Abdul Rehman Khetran, who was the minister for communication and works. They said the BAP lawmakers and opposition members also demanded more funds for their development schemes, which they had identified in the next year’s PSDP.

The opposition MPAs, who played an important role in the removal of Jam Kamal Khan from the chief minister’s office following a no-trust move against him, also expressed reservations over allocations for their schemes. But their issues were apparently resolved after the CM visited the residence of BNP-Mengal parliamentary leader Malik Naser Shahwani, and also met with opposition leader Malik Sikander Khan and federal minister Maulana Abdul Wasay.

“They are now satisfied with Mr Bizenjo,” a senior BAP leader told Dawn, adding that efforts were under way to remove the reservations of the ruling party members.

Sources in the planning and development department said finalisation of the PSDP was under way, and hoped the process was completed before presentation of the budget on Tuesday (today).

“In view of the new suggestions and proposals, we are making all-out efforts to finalise the budget documents and working throughout the night for it,” an official said.

However, the differences between Jam Kamal and CM Bizenjo could not be resolved despite efforts by some party members. The BAP’s intra-party election held earlier widened the gulf between the two leaders.

Former CM Jam Kamal rejected the poll and termed it illegal. He said being the party president he had already issued an election schedule, as per rules and regulations. He claimed party members and leaders protested in the meeting against the “illegal” elections.

However, BAP founder Senator Saeed Ahmed Hashmi was optimistic that the situation would soon ease out and the party would work normally. He claimed the budget session was not postponed owing to differences among the party leadership.

Majority of the party MPAs and general council members backed Mr Bizenjo and elected him the new party president. The members who earlier supported Jam Kamal also rejoined the CM, while it was expected that a couple of other MPAs would also switch sides soon.

“There is no threat to the party, as senators and MNAs also attended the general council meetings,” Hashmi said.

Published in Dawn, June 21st, 2022