QUETTA, June 24: The opposition ended the boycott of the Balochistan Assembly on Tuesday following negotiations with the provincial government and formation of a committee led by Chief Minister Jam Mohammad Yousaf to suggest proposals to accommodate its demands in the budget.
Speaker Jamal Shah Kakar had adjourned the session for half an hour so that the treasury and opposition benches could sort out their differences and members from both sides could take part in the budget discussion.
The opposition members for the third consecutive day started thumping desks and raising slogans against the LFO and President Gen Pervez Musharraf’s military post after the recitation from the Holy Quran.
They said the treasury benches had not contacted them despite the chief minister’s directives. After the protest they walked out of the house.
Opposition leader Kachkol Ali Baloch, Nawab Aslam Raisani of the People’s Party Parliamentarians and Abdur Rahim Ziaratwal of the Pukhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party alleged that ‘invisible forces’ were running the provincial government.
They complained that the provincial government neither sought their proposals for the budget nor allocated funds for development projects in their constituencies.
They alleged that ‘invisible forces’ were dictating the governments at the centre and the provinces and creating an environment where the country would remain under a perpetual martial law.
The opposition MPAs warned that they would have no option except taking the politics to the streets if the treasury benches did not change their attitude.
After the opposition’s walkout, the speaker adjourned the session and asked the treasury benches to contact the chief minister to arrange a meeting in his chamber to resolve the differences and ensure the participation of the members in the budget debate.
Later, a meeting was held in the speaker’s chamber, where the chief minister led the treasury benches and the opposition was represented by Kachkol Baloch, Nawab Raisani and Mr Ziaratwal.
The meeting continued for an hour and the sides agreed to form a five-member committee led by the chief minister to address the grievances of the opposition. Senior Minister Maulana Wasay and Finance Minister Syed Ehsan Shah will represent the government in the committee and Kachkol Baloch and Mr Ziaratwal will represent the opposition.
The opposition ended its boycott after the talks.
After the resumption of the session, Amina Khanum of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal said the government had presented a balanced budget and the education and health sectors had been given priority. She termed the establishment of a women’s university a positive step.
Ferah Azim Shah of the National Alliance said the establishment of Balochistan bank was an encouraging attempt to overcome poverty and unemployment. She said the formation of a new constabulary force would provide jobs to the youth.
Sher Jan Baloch of the PML-Q and Shah Zaman Rind and Asghar Ali Rind of the National Alliance demanded funds for development projects in their areas.