In absence of opposition: Balochistan Assembly passes budget 2021-2022
Ayub Tareen :
QUETTA: Balochistan Assembly on Friday passed the budget for the financial year 2021-2022 in absence of the opposition members. The coalition partners unanimously adopted the budget with no-cut motions from the house.
Session of Balochistan Assembly resumed here with Speaker Qudoos Bizenjo in the chair. Chief Minister Balochistan, Jam Kamal Khan, and parliamentary leaders of the ruling coalition also participated in the session. The treasury members congratulated each other after passing of the budge from the house.
Budget with a total outlay of Rs. 584 billion passed
The House passed the budget with a total outlay of Rs. 584 billion as opposition members kept continued their protest inside the Bijli road police station for a fifth consecutive day.
On the occasion, Provincial Finance Minister Mir Zahoor Buledi presented 102 development and non-development demands and got them approved without any amendment. The house approved all demands regarding the non-development expenditures and the Public Sector Development Program (PSDP).
Opposition stages demonstration
The opposition legislators and supporters staged a noisy protest demonstration against the provincial government at Manan Chowk. The workers of the component parties of the opposition criticized the government and chanted full-throated slogans.
“Our protest will continue”, Malik Sikandar Khan Advocate, the Opposition leader in Balochistan Assembly said. Opposition members had offered voluntary arrests at Bijli road police station five days back. The opposition lawmakers offered voluntary arrests after their nomination in a First Information Report (FIR) by the government.
Deadlock exists
Despite various rounds of talks, deadlock between government and opposition still exists. Home Minister Balochistan, Mir Ziaullah Langove, and other high-ups held repeated negotiations with the opposition to participate in the budget session. However, the opposition turned down the request of government ministers. “Formally arrest us or register our FIR”, Akhtar Hussain Langove, the Balochistan National Party (Mengal) member said.
