17 Balochistan Assembly members booked for creating chaos during budget session

By Muhammad JuniadPublished On 04 Jan 2023

• FIR against MPAs include clauses of meddling in state matters, violating coronavirus SOPs & attacking police personnel.
• The Opposition legislators and supporters in Balochistan had clashed with police at the assembly gate on the day the province’s 2021-2022 budget was to be presented.
• Opposition members have decided to go to the police station together to surrender before the police and facilitate arrests.

QUETTA: Police have booked 17 Balochistan Assembly members for creating chaos during the budget session on Friday. All members who have been booked in the incident belong to Opposition parties.

As per sources, police were unable to name the chief minister and police officers in the first information report (FIR) on the applications of the Opposition members. The FIR includes clauses of meddling in the state matters, violating coronavirus standard operating procedures (SOPs) and attacking police personnel.

The Opposition legislators and supporters in Balochistan had clashed with police at the assembly gate on the day the province’s 2021-2022 budget was to be presented.

Opposition members to go to police for arrests

A meeting of members of Opposition parties, chaired by the Leader of the Opposition in the Provincial Assembly Malik Sikandar, took place in Quetta on Sunday.

During the meeting, Opposition members decided to go to the police station together to surrender before the police and facilitate the arrests.

According to Sikandar, all members who have been named in the FIR will go to the Bijli Road Police Stations so that they could be arrested. Meanwhile, MPA Abdul Waheed Siddiqui will go to Karachi for treatment, said Sikandar.

Opposition lawmakers, supporters clash with police outside Balochistan Assembly

On Friday, chaotic scenes erupted outside Balochistan Assembly as scores of protestors and Opposition lawmakers and supporters holding a protest outside the assembly were baton-charged by police.

Police said Opposition lawmakers had locked all four doors of the Balochistan Assembly to prevent the budget session from taking place.

Chief Minister Balochistan Jam Kamal Khan and a few lawmakers arrived at the assembly.

The budget session commenced under the chair of Speaker Abdul Qudoos Bizenjo. Opposition MPA Nasrullah Zehray accused the police of using violent methods to disperse the "peaceful protest" outside the assembly.

Sana Baloch, another MPA, lashed out at the government, saying that the province was at its worst state since its inception.

He said lawmakers Abdul Wahid Siddiqui and Babar Rahim Mengal had been injured by the police's armoured vehicle.

Balochistan Finance Minister Mir Zahoor Ahmad Buledi presented the budget during the session.

Earlier, the Opposition's protest and clashes intensified, as per reports, when the chief minister arrived at the assembly.

Opposition has proven how 'non-serious' it is: Liaquat Shahwani

Speaking to Geo News, Balochistan Information Minister Liaquat Shahwani said the clashes had proven how "ill-disciplined and non-serious" the Opposition was.

"Assembly is a prestigious institution and they have attacked it. The same assembly whose members these people themselves are," he said, attacking Opposition MPAs.

"They are doing this by design and deliberation," he said. "They have proven they do not follow any democratic values and to protect their personal interests, they [Opposition] are ready to go to any length."

Shahwani said if the Opposition was serious, it would have properly gone through the budget and recommended its suggestions.

"Have you heard their proposals or demands?" he asked. "This is the best budget in Pakistan's history and will be presented today," he added.

He rejected reports that the Balochistan chief minister had been hit by a flower pot, adding that the Opposition supporters' act of hurling objects was "shameful".

"After this, they will not be able to even take the name of democracy ever again," he added. 

Why the Opposition was protesting against the budget?

Supporters of Opposition parties have blocked national highways in several cities of Balochistan days before the budget was presented. The Opposition accused the government of ignoring development projects in the budget.

Opposition lawmakers had warned they would not let the provincial government present the budget.

Leaders of the Opposition parties said they would not allow any MPA to enter the assembly on Friday if their proposed development projects were not included in the provincial Annual Development Programme (ADP).