Days before passage of the federal budget, the National Assembly on Wednesday adopted a motion, empowering the speaker to constitute a special committee of the Parliament to look into issues being faced by the people of Balochistan. The move came at a time when Sardar Akhtar Mengal, whose party is an ally of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-led (PTI) coalition government, threatened to part ways if his party's demands about the provinces are not addressed.
The National Assembly speaker will form a special committee on Balochistan, comprising members belonging to all the parliamentary parties, to look into various issues which the people Balochistan want to be addressed. Speaking on the occasion, Mengal who also supported the government during a vote on demands for grants, said the issues of the province are not complicated rather they are being complicated. "We want resolution of issues of the province through democratic means...the people and the country should know what's the fault line, as they be told who is responsible - the nationalists, the establishment, or the people of the province," he added.
He called upon the National Assembly speaker to set a timeframe of two months during which the committee should give its findings, adding, "We're ready to work on the issue day and night, as it should not be lingered on like Hamudur Rehman Commission."
Earlier in the day, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari reiterated his demand to issue the production orders for Mohsin Dawar and Ali Wazir, two MNAs from erstwhile tribal areas who were arrested late May. Talking to reporters, he said that production orders for Mohsin Dawar and Ali Wazir should be issued so that the House can be completed. "It does not matter if you're in the government or the opposition, we are all members of the Parliament," he added.
"The production orders for some members of the Parliament have still not been issued. It is the right of every member to attend the budget session," he added.
"The PPP is attending the budget session under protest. What message is the government sending to the people of FATA? Every child stood against terrorism, people's businesses were destroyed and lives were lost. Today these people can't take part in the budget," Bilawal lamented.
He further said those who come through the backdoor are always worried. Akhtar Mengal has serious issues and if those are not resolved, he will not vote on the budget, he added.
"The PPP has announced it will oppose the budget. The budget is the enemy of the people and we reject it. This budget is being passed through cheating. Neither Zia-ul-Haq nor Pervez Musharraf did this," Bilawal added.
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