Govt to continue efforts to implement agreement with Balochistan National Party : Shireen

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Human Rights Shireen Mazari Wednesday said the government was committed to provide  development resources to Balochistan and include all stakeholders in the province in the decision making process.

Speaking in the National Assembly, she said the government would continue its efforts to implement the six points agreement signed with Balochistan National Party (BNP) led by Akhtar Mengal. She urged the Speaker to play his role in implementing the six points agreed with BNP.

She said the draft bill on enforced disappearances was prepared by the Human Rights Ministry and now was in the Law Ministry and the process for bill would be expedited. Former finance minister Asad Umer while responding to the speech by Bilawal Bhutto Zardari in a previous session of National Assembly, said remarks made by Bilawal in the house were used by Indian media against Pakistan. He said Bilawal called the team of PTI incapable and held it responsible for the economic difficulties faced by the country while performance of the last PPP government was very bad.

He said in the first year of PPP government, the economic growth was less than one percent and in five years the average growth was 2.8 percent.

He said the inflation at present was 6.8 percent while during the PPP government the inflation hit the mark of more than 12 percent.

The average budget deficit during PPP was 7 percent while the FBR revenue came down by 8 percent on average, he added.

The former minister said the loans during PPP government increased by 135 percent, adding PPP government was incapable and the national exchequer was looted and now the screw was tightening around those having fake bank accounts and properties abroad.

He said PTI government was standing against mafias who looted the national wealth, adding Pakistanis were a proud nation and would bravely face the economic difficulties.

MNA Akhtar Mengal talked about the natural disaster and terrorist attacks that struck the province of Balochistan.

He said members of Hazara community were attacked.

In another incident that occurred 400 kilometres away from the Iran border, people were taken out of buses and shot dead, he added.

He said he presented six points to the government for resolution of problems of people of Balochistan but even the committee for it was not formed.

While comparing the PPP government years from 2008 to 2013 and the present situation, MNA Khurshid Shah said inflation hiked, dollar devalued and lives of people were made miserable during the tenure of former finance minister Asad Umer.

The prices of medicines increased and the government removed its own health minister, he added.

Khurshid said opposition offered the government to hold talks on ways to improve the economy but the offer was rejected.

In 2008, terrorism was at its peak, Pakistan was importing wheat and all the economic indicators were down, he said adding situation in Swat had worsened and terrorists were planning to converge on Islamabad when PPP took over.

When PPP government came, the world was hit with worst recession and in 2010 large scale floods struck Pakistan and next year, the country was again hit with more floods.

Khurshid said the PPP government increased salaries and pension by 125 and 100 percent respectively and gave the first social protection programme by allocating Rs 80 billion.

Supreme Court had appreciated the previous PPP government decision to restore jobs of 210,000 persons who were sacked from their posts in the past, he added.

He said presently the salaried class was hit by inflation and in real terms salaries of employees had decreased.

He said Modi had oppressed Muslims in Kashmir and contrary to claims of PTI, Modi would not resolve the Kashmir issue if he would win elections in India.