QUETTA, Nov 28: The inaugural session of the new Balochistan Assembly was held here on Thursday in which 61 MPAs-elect took oath.

Sheikh Jafar Khan Mandokhel presided over the session, after being appointed presiding officer by governor Balochistan.

Soon after taking oath Maulana Abdul Wasay, parliamentary leader of the MMA in Balochistan Assembly, stood up and asked the presiding officer that under which law he had taken oath.

Nawab Mohammad Aslam Khan Raisani of the PPP also took the floor and said that all members of the assembly wanted to take oath under the 1973 Constitution. He said that they would not take oath under the Legal Framework Order.

The presiding officer, Jafar Khan Mandokhel, assured the House that members would take oath under the 1973 Constitution as was done by the NWFP and Punjab assemblies.

“It is the same oath written in the 73 Constitution,” Jafar Khan Mandokhel said and requested them they should first take oath and later on they could speak on the floor of the House.

In the meantime the MPA-elect of Balochistan National Party (Mengal group), Akhtar Hussain Lango and Mir Akbar Mengal and wanted to speak on a point of order.

The presiding officer told them that they couldn’t speak in the house without taking oath as member of the assembly.

They said that they would not take oath until officials of the Frontier corps nominated in the killing of two citizens in Panjgur were not arrested.

However, Jafar Khan Mandokhel, did not allow them to speak on point of order and asked them to take oath with other members of the assembly.

Both the members did not take oath and left the house when other members stood up for taking oath.

Sixty-one MPAs, including Jafar Khan Mandokhel took oath as member of the assembly.

Those who could not take oath on Thursday are: Mir Balach Khan Marri (Independent), Akhtar Hussain Lango and Mir Mohammad Akbar Mengal. Balach Khan Marri was not present in the House.

Sardar Yar Mohammad Rind had already taken oath in the National Assembly.

After the oath-taking and signing of the register, Abdul Rahim Ziaratwal, stood up on a point of order and informed the House that FC officials, who were nominated in the FIR, were arrested and after their arrest, the BNM members should also be administrated oath.

The chair informed the House that they could take oath in the next session.

The PO announced that the schedule of the election of Speaker and Deputy Speaker. According to the schedule nomination papers for both the offices would be received until 12 noon on Friday. Polling would be held on Saturday.

The assembly was adjourned until Nov 30.

In the first session of the Balochistan Assembly all the 12 elected women members were present and they were allotted separate seats.

Strict security arrangements were witnessed in and around the assembly during the session as heavy contingents of police, Reserve Police and Anti-Terrorist Force were also deployed.