Balochistan lawmakers slam attack on minister

The Balochistan Assembly on Monday passed local government bill and a resolution condemning attack on Balochistan Finance Minister, Mir Asim Kurd. The Assembly sitting started with Speaker Muhammad Aslam Bhootani in the chair. Minister for Fisheries Hamal Kalamati, on behalf of Minister for Local Government, moved Balochistan Local Government (Amendment) Bill 2011, which was adopted unanimously.
Minister Zahoor Buledi tabled resolution, which read "This house unanimously condemned life attempt on Finance Minister Mir Asim Kurd". The house passed the resolution unanimously. Buledi strongly condemned the attack and firing on the convoy of the minister in the Dasht area of Mastung district late Sunday night. He said law and order situation has so deteriorated in the province that even criminals involved in kidnapping people for ransom are attacking ministers. He added that no one is safe in the province.
Expressing his views, Pakistan Muslim League-Q MPA, Jaffar Khan Mandokhail said 'everyone knows the attackers but no one has the courage to bring them to justice. He said peace could not be secured in the province until the government takes stern action against the criminals' network. Minister without portfolio Nasreen Khaitran, Minister for Youth Affairs, Cap Abdul Khaliq Achakzai (Retd), Minister for QDA Haji Ismail Gujjar, Minister for Minorities Gulshan Lal Basant and others also condemned the attack.
Minister for Prosecution Rahila Durrani said Kurd was attacked for the third time. She said members of the assembly are disappointed over a very poor law and order situation in Balochistan. Minister for Health, Ainullah Shams said armed men had also previously attacked governor, chief minister and ministers of Balochistan. He observed that criminal mafia remain in touch through mobile phones, whereas government is incurring billions of rupees on law enforcement agencies but there is no output.
Expressing his views, Speaker Bhootani said the administration should be given free hand for six months period to appoint deputy commissioners and district police officials and other staff only on merit basis so that peace could be established in the province.
Meanwhile, Minister Habibur Rehman Muhammad Hasni said Quetta Electric Supply Company has warned to close diesel power generators in 12 cities of the province from May 20 to protest non-payment of rupees 1.15 billion dues by the government. Minister for Livestock Qambar Gichki emphasised the need to resolve this issue at the earliest. Senior Minister, Maulana Abdul Wasey informed that a meeting has been called to resolve the issue.