QUETTA: The Balochistan Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution on Thursday demanding implementation of the province’s six per cent quota in jobs in federal government departments, corporations and other institutions with immediate effect.

The house constituted a committee headed by Chief Minister Nawab Sanaullah Zehri to approach Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and officials concerned in this regard.

Speaker Reheela Durrani presided over the session which was held after a two-day break.

The chief minister supported the resolution moved by Syed Liaquat Agha of Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party on behalf of other members of the party.

“It is our right and my government will not compromise on the rights of Balochistan,” Nawab Zehri said.

Liaquat Agha said federal ministries and corporations were not ready to implement the quota guaranteed by the constitution. “Balochistan is not getting even one per cent of the quota,” he lamented.

Provincial Minister Jaffar Khan Mandokhel said it was an import issue related to the problem of unemployment. If the quota is implemented, educated youths of the province can get jobs in federal departments and corporations.

He demanded that the process of issuing local and domicile certificates be made transparent and an investigation be conducted into preparation of fake certificates.

Adviser to the Chief Minister, Obaidullah Babat, said Balochistan had no representation in the country’s foreign missions and banks at higher level.

Dr Ruqaiya Saeed Hashmi said the issue had been taken up with the federal government several times through such resolutions but there was no positive response from Islamabad so far.

She urged the provincial government and all political parties of Balochistan to unite and put pressure on Islamabad over the issue.

Ministers Hamid Khan Achakzai, Abdul Rahim Ziaratwal and Khalid Khan Langove and members Mir Asim Kurd and William Barkat spoke in support of the resolution.

Published in Dawn, January 15th, 2016