QUETTA: Members of Balochistan Assembly have asked the provincial government to provide them with Levies personnel for their security in the wake of deteriorating law and order situation in the province and terrorism incidents that occurred recently.

The legislators made the demand on Thursday through a resolution moved in the assembly which was adopted without any opposition.

The opposition and treasury members, including Nasarullah Zerey of the Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party, Malik Naseer Ahmed Shahwani and Akhtar Hussain Langove of the Balochistan National Party-Mengal, Qadir Ali Nail of Hazara Democratic Party and Zubeda Bibi of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal moved the joint resolution during the assembly’s session with acting speaker Sardar Babar Khan Musakhel in the chair.

The resolution stated that the provincial government had withdrawn the lawmakers’ security 11 months ago. “With the withdrawal of the security, the lives of the members have become unsafe,” the resolution said, demanding Levies personnel to ensure the lawmakers’ security.

Responding on behalf of the government, Adviser to the Chief Minister Ziaullah Langove said the guards were withdrawn on orders of the Balochistan High Court. However, he added all necessary steps will be taken to ensure the security of elected members.

The house adopted another resolution demanding that the provincial government approach the Centre for ensuring immediate legislation to establish Pakistan Institute of Research and Registration of Quality Insurance in Gwadar to allow the locals to receive quality education.

The resolution was moved by opposition members Mir Hammal Kalmati and Akhtar Langove of the BNP-M.

Mr Kalmati and Mr Langove said the university would facilitate research and develop agriculture, fishing and mineral sectors in the area.

The house also adopted another resolution moved by Sanaullah Baloch demanding that provincial government take steps for the use of local languages, including Balochi, Brahvi and Pashto, in all educational institutions as medium of education.

Mr Baloch said since the past 70 years, the promotion of the local language was discouraged and teachers who could teach those languages were not appointed in educational institutions. He said a resolution in this regard was passed in 2014 as well but its implementation has been stalled.

The developed countries progressed by adopting education in their mother tongue, he added.

Published in Dawn, October 28th, 2022