QUETTA: The Awami National Party (ANP), a coalition partner in the Balochistan Awami Party-led provincial government, and some opposition members, while condemning the killing of a man in Harnai, on Monday demanded formation of a judicial commission, headed by a senior judge of the high court, to probe the matter.

ANP parliamentary leader in Balochistan Assembly Mohammad Asghar Achakzai moved a joint privilege motion on the matter on behalf of Zmarak Khan, Malik Naeem Bazai and Shaheena Kakar in the assembly session, which was presided over by Deputy Speaker Sardar Babar Khan Musakhail.

Mr Achakzai said people were holding peaceful protest in Khost area against the opening of fire by security forces that killed ANP worker Khaliq Dad dead and injured over a dozen others. He alleged police and local administration were not registering an FIR against those who fired on the protesters.

People in Harnai along with the body were protesting against the firing incident, he added.

ANP lawmakers table privilege motion in Balochistan Assembly

As part of a conspiracy, the ANP leader claimed, Balochistan was being pushed into the fire. He demanded that a judicial commission, headed by a high court judge, should be constituted to conduct judicial inquiry into the firing incident and an FIR should be registered against the personnel of security forces who were involved in firing.

While taking the floor, Minister Zmarak Khan Piralizai condemned the firing incident and said that despite the casualties of ANP workers, the party would not give up its stand and would continue its peaceful struggle as followers of Bacha Khan who always gave lessons of peace. He demanded an inquiry into the incident through a judicial commission, pointing out that holding peaceful protest was people’s right that could not be denied.

Also, Hazara Democratic Party Chairman and Balochistan Sports Minister Abdul Khaliq Hazara supported the privilege motion by demanding judicial inquiry. Similarly, Health Minister Syed Ehsan Shah and Agriculture Minister Asadullah Baloch while condemning the shooting also demanded a judicial commission to probe the incident.

Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party legislator Nasrullah Khan Barech strongly protested over the action and demanded that the deputy speaker give his ruling as the debate on the motion had been completed.

However, the deputy speaker disposed of the adjournment saying that without the government version of the motion no ruling could be given on it. Mr Musakhail said Adviser to Chief Minister on Home and Tribal Affairs Mir Ziaullah Langove should be summoned to apprise the members of the government’s stand on the motion.

Since Mr Langove was not present in the house, the deputy speaker did not give ruling and disposed of the adjournment motion, inviting the ire of Mr Barech, Asghar Khan Achakzai, Zamarak Khan, Naeem Bazai and Shaheena Kakar.

Published in Dawn, August 16th, 2022