ISLAMABAD, Feb 6: The opposition and Baloch senators criticized the government for use of force in Balochistan while the government reiterated its resolve to continue the paramilitary action till the removal of what it termed all miscreants and Firari camps in the province.

Earlier, the house passed by majority a draft bill to amend the Pakistan Telecommunication (Re-organisation) Act 1996 that was earlier passed by the National Assembly, which would pave the way for PTCL’s privatisation.

The house adopted an amendment in the amended Senate rules under Rule 242 sought to be moved by leader of the house Wasim Sajjad along with an amendment proposed by Ishaq Dar of the PML-N.

Taking part on an adjournment motion, which continued on second day on Monday senator Sanaullah Baloch warned the government that it was treading the war path, which would only culminate on the dismemberment of the country.

In his winding up speech, minister of state for interior Dr Shahzad Wasim declared that the government would no longer tolerate what he termed miscreants, who were creating law and order situation and disturbing government’s writ with the help of ‘foreign elements’.

He said the government was determined to complete mega development projects in Balochistan to bring it on a par with other provinces and would not compromise with elements who were opposing development and progress.

He criticized the recent report of Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) report on Balochistan terming it lopsided and failing to cover all aspects of the Balochistan situation.

Mr Wasim alleged that criminal elements from other provinces had joined hands with local ‘miscreants’ and the government was not going to bow before them nor it would reconcile with these elements.

Earlier, speaking on the motion, Mr Sanaullah Baloch verbally clashed with the women lawmakers of the treasury benches when MrsTanvir Khalid of the PML-Q from Karachi confronted him for using abusive language against Punjab.

In her speech, Mrs Khalid raised questions about the innocence of the influential Sardars of Balochistan and asked who had initiated the ongoing clashes and acts of sabotage and why had they failed to give their subjects schools, health centres or other development activity despite having received huge sums against gas royalty.

Reprimanding the senator, Mrs Khalid said there was no justification for using abusive language in the presence of women lawmakers. She was joined by other women senators, who jointly asked the chair to advise the Baloch lawmaker to maintain decorum.

Mr Baloch angrily replied that a war was being fought between the elements who want provincial resources and political power back against the federal government agencies which was not ready to give these rights.

Addressing the chair, he warned that the Baloch people should not be pushed back against the wall to an extent that they repented their decision to accede to Pakistan in 1948.

Chairman Muhammadmian Soomro advised Mr Baloch to remain calm and use words responsibly.

Mr Baloch said that if the entire nation could celebrate Kashmir solidarity day to demand the rights to self determination of Kashmiris,why should they oppose the same from the Baloch people, who were simply demanding back their powers.

He said the Baloch leadership had no hope of reconciliation as they were not ready to bow down before anyone.

He termed the new NFC award formula illegal and unconstitutional and said it would deprive Balochistan of its due share in the federal resources.

He said: “we have made enough effort to keep Pakistan together but it seems Islamabad has decided to accept dismemembership of this half, too”.

Mohim Baloch of the BNP termed the situation in Balochistan a political issue, which, he said, could not be resolved through the use of force. Instead, he said, the government should return to the initiative that was taken up by Chaudhry Shujaat when he was prime minister and the committee headed by him that had presented valuable recommendations, which needed to be implemented.

Prof Khurshid of the MMA urged the government to shun efforts to resolve the political issues of Balochistan through military means. He said the main demand of the people of Balochistan was equitable distribution of natural resources and greater provincial autonomy and arrangements needed to be made in that direction.

He urged Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz to take a fresh initiative and invite all political parties to resolve the issue by mutual understanding.

Pari Gul Agha of treasury benches from Balochistan complained of non-implementation of recommendations of the parliamentary committee and a lack of decision despite lengthy speeches in the parliament.

Kamran Murtaza from Balochistan said President Musharraf had announced a development package amounting to Rs1.5 billion for Kohulu with less than 100,000 population while nothing was being done for provision of water to Quetta with more than 1.5 million population.

He accused the agencies of creating a clash-like situation in Dera Bugti by bringing in two tribes offensive to the Bugti tribe.

Some lawmakers asked nationalist senators to ask their leadership in Balochistan to condemn and distance themselves from acts of terrorism.

Rahmatullah Kakar of the MMA said a New Zealand Land newspaper had reprinted blasphemous material today. He demanded that the resolution passed by the upper house should make clear upon the West that the Muslim Ummah would jointly react against repetition of such material in future.

He said the blame that Balochistan was in the grip of Sardari system was not correct as it was the federal government which had failed to implement a resolution which was approved by the Balochistan cabinet in 1972 and sent to Islamabad asking for elimination of Sardari system.

The house was adjourned to meet again at 10 a.m. on Tuesday.