Opposition senators were apprehensive of deliberations of Senate committee on Balochistan and questioned the non-issuance of a notification by Senate Chairman which is a prerequisite for holding the first meeting of the body.
"This inaction indicates that Shaukat Aziz-led government is least interested to follow the spirit with which the committee was set up by Shujaat Hussain," an opposition senator from Balochistan told Business Recorder here on Tuesday.
"The committee cannot meet unless and until the notification is issued," he said. "The priorities of the new government look different from Shujaat Hussain, he added. Unlike the present head of the government, Shujaat had the wisdom to read out and recognise political realities, he said.
Treasury senator Mouhim Khan Baloch on telephone confirmed that the committee was yet to be notified.
He, however, hoped that the notification would be issued within a few days and the committee would shortly meet formally here to chalk out future strategy for effectively addressing the issue of Balochistan.
The 27-member Senate Committee on Balochistan had to start its deliberations early this month. However, foreign trips of Senate Chairman put the committee on hold.
"The committee will visit Balochistan to hold meetings with the nationalist leaders vis-à-vis their complaints and grievances," said Mouhim.
The committee strength was increased from 22 to 27 members with 14 senators from the ruling coalition and 12 members from the opposition parties while Senate Chairman Soomro would head the body.
The ruling coalition members are Shujaat Hussain and Zobaida Jalal. They will be attending the committee meetings in the capacity of special invitees, being members of National Assembly.