QUETTA: The Balochistan Assembly adopted two resolutions on Thursday, one demanding more high court benches to ensure speedy justice, especially for citizens living in far-flung areas, and the other for converting national highways into dual carriageways to curb road accidents, which have claimed 9,000 in the last two years.

However, another resolution moved by the provincial planning minister, Noor Muhammad Dummar, on shelling at civilians by Afghan forces in Chaman was disposed of by Acting Speaker Sardar Babar Khan Musakhail, who presided over the session, as it lacked the support of the majority members.

Nasarullah Zerey, a member of the Pashtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP), moved the resolution on highways. He said the federal government had approved converting the Quetta-Zhob and Quetta-Karachi national highways into dual carriageways two years ago, but work could not be started yet.

He said many highways and roads had been built in Punjab and Sindh under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), but no road was built in Balochistan.

The second resolution, on more high court benches, was jointly moved by the parliamentary leader of the Awami National Party (ANP), Muhammad Asghar Achakzai, and Mir Akhtar Hussain Langove of the Balochistan National Party (Mengal).

They demanded the establishment of benches of the Balochistan High Court in Loralai, Sibi, Khuzdar and Turbat, which they said had already been approved by the authorities concerned.

They said people in far-flung areas of the province had to travel long distances to Quetta to file petitions and attend hearings.

Published in Dawn, December 23rd, 2022