QUETTA:  The proceedings of the Balochistan Assembly were adjourned on Thursday due to lack of quorum. The meeting of Balochistan assembly started with member of Panel of Chairman, Ms Shahida Rauf in the chair about 30 minutes late from its fixed schedule.

As the question hour began, a member drew the attention of chair about lack of quorum upon which the chair adjourned the session for five minutes for completion of quorum but despite it the required members could not turned up to attend the session. The chair adjourned the session for more about 15 minutes however, owing to lack of quorum the chair adjourned the proceedings till March, 24^th.

Meanwhile, opposition members in Balochistan Assembly claimed that incumbent government is in minority thus it has lost its trust therefore it should morally resign, adding that members of treasury benches are not taking any interest to run the government and they lack majority.

They said members in treasury benches have no right to rule and alleged that Chief Minister had gone United States to sale out the Reko Diq against the will of people, warning opposition would not keep mum over it at all. They warned that opposition members would lodge protest on all forums against Reko Diq decision. They said that they did not want to break the assembly; however, completing the quorum is the responsibility of treasury benches.

These views were expressed by opposition members Sardar Aslam Bezinjo, Dr Hamid Khan Achakzai, Rehman Saleh Baloch, Sardar Mustafa Khan Tareen, Obaidullah Babat, Syed Liaquat Agha, Nasrullah Zehry, Haji Islam Dr Shahma Ishaq, Mir Abdul Khaliq Langov, Yasmeen Lehri, Spozmay Bibi, Arifa Sidduq and Masoma Hayat while addressing a joint press conference in Opposition chamber of Balochistan Assembly.

Opposition member, Sardar Aslm Bezinjo hailing from National Party alleged that members of treasury benches are not interested in running the government as the provincial ministers and other members mostly missing from assembly meetings. “Government has lost majority and it is now functioning unconstitutionally and undemocratically,” he said and claimed that 23 members of opposition are supporting his group while 13 members were supporting the former opposition leader. “In such a situation there are 36 members in the opposition and those who are running government are not incapable as they lack the majority and could not make legislation,” Aslam Bezinjo said.

Opposition member Rehmat Saleh Baloch said that government has lost its confidence and some members on opposition benches are running the affairs of government who are allegedly involved in looting and corruption.  He alleged that posts are being sold which is a big joke with Balochistan and it should be stopped forthwith. “When we were in the government we would answer all criticism with positive manner and faced the situation but incumbent government lacks all such qualities as they were forcibly brought into the government,” Rehmat Saleh added.

He said that instead of bringing Balochistan on right track Planning and Development Department has been handed over to private people who are only interested in taking commissions which would lead Balochistan towards destruction. “Rates have been set for transfers and postings if this situation remained intact we would come up with strong protest,” he alleged.

opposition member Sardar Mustafa Khan Tareen of PKMAP said that it is responsibility of government to ensure quorum and the leader of the house is abroad. “Bureaucracy even did not bother to attend the sessions of the assembly and the loot and plunder is underway,” he alleged, adding that in P&D and Finance departments through a plot bargaining is being encouraged which is further augmenting the miseries of masses.

Dr. Hamid Achakzai said that government is in minority, governments could not run as it has been running in Balochistan, adding that there is undemocratic government in the province there was only one force which brought a no trust motion against the government united them in senate elections but now in the assembly meeting they could not complete quorum.  “It is a big joke with democracy” he said.

Syed Liaquat Agha said that former Chief Minister Dr Abdul Malik Baloch truly represented Balochistan in Reko Diq case while incumbent chief minister has gone to America to sale out Reko Diq who even did not take concerned minster with himself. He alleged that Chief Minister Bezinjo had been American with unconcerned people and the opposition will not sit calm upon this.