QUETTA: Opposition members in the Balochistan Assembly staged a walkout on Thursday, protesting against the federal government’s alleged decision to abolish the Levies force in the province.

The issue was raised by opposition leader Mir Younas Aziz Zehri during the assembly session, presided over by Deputy Speaker Ghazala Gola.

Taking the floor on a point of order, Mr Zehri informed the house that a former member of the National Assembly from the erstwhile Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) had written a letter to the federal government requesting the Levies Force be abolished.

He strongly protested and expressed serious concern that this former MNA had written to the prime minister, who then reportedly directed the chief secretary to disband the force.

Decries federal interference in province’s affairs

“Our resolutions and letters are ignored, but a letter from [former] Fata MNA gets immediate action,” Mr Zehri said.

National Party MPA Rehmat Saleh Baloch questioned the federal government’s interference, asking who the former Fata MNA was to decide the fate of Balochistan’s Levies.

Jamaat-i-Islami’s Maulana Hidayatur Rehman said decisions about Balochistan’s future were being made by individuals from Khyber Pakh­tunkhwa, and urged all provincial lawmakers to register their protest with the prime minister.

JUI-F’s Zabid Ali Reki also criticised the federal government, asking what the federation had ever given to Balochistan.

Following these remarks, opposition members walked out of the session.

Provincial Minister for Public Health Engineering Sardar Abdul Rehman Khetran responded by saying that the provincial government was making its own decisions.

He said letters are commonly received and merely noted with remarks. He clarified that the decision to convert the Levies into police in three districts was made by the chief minister of Balochistan.

CM Sarfraz Bugti commented that “opposition often resorts to walkouts in June”.

In the absence of the opposition, Deputy Speaker Gola postponed several motions and notices.

These included a resolution by JUI-F’s Fazal Qadir Mandokhail to upgrade the Rural Health Center in Qamar Din Karez to a Tehsil Headquarters Hospital and a proposal by National Party’s Rehmat Saleh Baloch to create new teaching posts for mother tongue education in schools.

Additionally, a resolution by Jamaat-i-Islami’s Mr Rehman seeking equal job opportunities for madressah students, as well as various notices regarding land allotments and the stalled extension work from Sabzal Road to Airport Road via Killi Gul Muhammad, were also postponed.

The session was adjourned until 10am on May 31.

Published in Dawn, May 30th, 2025