Opposition again raises issue in NA: Controversy over CPEC route refuses to die down

Opposition in the National Assembly on Monday voiced concerns on the proposed route of China-Pakistan Economic Corridors (CPEC) and called upon the government to address their reservations to avoid Kalabagh Dam-like controversy over the multi-billion dollar projects.
The issue was raised by Leader of the Opposition Syed Khursheed Ahmad Shah, who stated that the opposition does not want to politicise the issue but the confusion over the routes of the CPEC still exists among various opposition parties despite the recent briefing by Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Aqbal.
"The briefing given by the minister [On CPEC) in the recent all-parties conference generated further confusion instead of addressing the concerns," Shah said, adding that the opposition parties have failed to understand the government's stance on the routes. According to him the original route of the project is much feasible and shorter than the one the government had presented in the briefing. He said that the government had promised to give another briefing and the opposition parties were waiting for another session on the CPEC.
"Don't create another controversy like Kalabagh Dam. We must sit together to address the concerns and sort out a way out which is in the best interest of the country instead of some constituencies," he said.
While responding, Minister for Water and Power Khawaja Asif said that Ahsan Iqbal in the previous briefing had given an assurance that the government neither had any plan not intending to change the route of CPEC route infrastructure. He said that almost all the important areas of the country were being linked through the road network under CPEC. He said that as per promise, the next briefing on the project would soon be arranged and also suggested that a committee could also be constituted to address the concerns of the opposition parties.
Earlier, the opposition leader also expressed serious concerns over the promotions of bureaucrats by Central Selection Board (CSB) in its recent meeting while ignoring officers from Sindh and Balochistan provinces. He called upon the Prime Minister to review the decision and grant promotions on the merit.
Shah said that the Prime Minister had not yet responded to his letter on the issue. "For God sake, what message are you going to convey to the small provinces? All six officers from Sindh have been ignored in the promotion despite meeting all the formalities while those have been granted promotions who are near and dear to the Prime Minister," the opposition leader maintained, adding that those belonging to Balochistan were also treated the same way.
He further maintained that an officer named Tauqir Shah, who is one of the accused of the Model Town incident, is also among those who got promotions. In his observations, Speaker National Assembly sought a policy statement from the government on the issue. Speaking on a point of order, a treasury member belonging to National Party from Balochistan Sardar Kamal Khan Bangulzai strongly objected to the ongoing operation in some parts of Balochistan, saying that the operation instead of eliminating the militants would promote militancy.
He referred to the recent crackdown by security forces in Kalat and other parts of the province in which several 'militants' were killed, saying that there was growing anxiety among the people as no body knows who is a militant who is not. "The operation is neither in the best interest of the country nor in the welfare of Balochistan...is being a Baloch a crime? Whether the people of Balochistan don't have the right of fair trail in a court of law instead of being killed by those who are picking them from their homes?, he asked, adding that in most of the cases they are being picked from their homes and their dead bodies are recovered the next day. He said that his party was not against the crackdown against the militants but they have serious reservations on the procedure of the operation.