QUETTA, May 29: The provincial government suffered a setback on Monday when the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal announced a boycott of the current session of the Balochistan Assembly. With the consent of the treasury and opposition members of the house, Speaker Jamal Shah Kakar allowed Senior Minister Maulana Abdul Wasay of the MMA to speak on a point of personal clarification before question hour.

Maulana Wasay said the MMA had rejected “the NFC award, the merger of levies with police, military action in the province and a notification issued by the inter-education board regarding certificates of madressahs”.

He said that the provincial Shoora of the JUI-F had reviewed the situation of the province a few days back and took important decisions related to the functioning of the coalition government.

The senior minister alleged that some forces were playing a carrot-and-stick game with the MMA and stated that those forces wanted the religious alliance to remain silent on rights of the people of Balochistan in order to enjoy facilities.

He said that the MMA had to face the wrath of Islamabad and pay for its principled stand on the NFC award, levies’ merger and military operation.

On the issue of madressah sanads, he said that there was a contradiction in the government policy because on the one hand the certificates of madressahs were recognised as equivalent to a Bachelor of Arts degree and candidates were allowed to contest MPA and MNA seats but on the other hand the concept of equivalence to secondary certificates was rejected.

The senior minister also claimed that Chief Minister Jam Yousuf had not taken any bold stand on resolutions adopted by the Balochistan Assembly, even those pertaining to the genuine rights of the province. He blamed shadowy forces for political destabilisation in the province and pitting political groups and people against each other.

Maulana Wasay said that as per decision of the JUI-F provincial Shoora the party would boycott the session till June 15. All members of the MMA staged a walkout from the house.

The speaker asked Deputy Speaker Mir Aslam Bhootani and opposition members Nawab Aslam Raisani and Abdur Rahim Ziaratwal to bring the MMA members back and adjourned proceedings for 10 minutes.

When the session resumed Mr Ziaratwal informed the house that Maulana Wasay had told him that the provincial Shoora of the party would review the boycott decision in light of the sentiments of the house members.

The speaker on the suggestion of treasury and opposition members deferred the agenda of the day and adjourned the session till June 1.