Members of the Balochistan Assembly took opposite sides on Monday on the emergency and governor’s rule already imposed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, ARY News reported.
Opposition leader Dr Abdul Malik Baloch, a former chief minister and leader of the National Party, condemned the move and called for the elected provincial government to be restored. He said the Constitution has Article 1, which defines Pakistan as a federation, as well as Articles 232 and 234. “We are happy with democracy in name only,” he said, warning that action against the elected government in KP could alienate the province. He said insecurity there had continued since the Afghan Taliban returned to power, and that earlier spells of emergency and governor’s rule had added to hardship.
ARY noted that JUI-F, also in opposition in the Balochistan Assembly, had already tabled resolutions against the emergency and governor’s rule in KP.
Government members Mir Zahoor Buledi, provincial minister Mir Saleem Khosa and Prince Agha Umar Ahmedzai defended the decision. Buledi said the emergency provisions were meant for exceptional circumstances, claimed that six districts in KP had become no-go areas, and accused the provincial government of failing to cooperate with the security forces. Khosa said the step was taken out of necessity and accused the KP government of not cooperating with the armed forces, police and the civil administration. Ahmedzai said similar action should be considered in Balochistan if it became necessary to protect the state, while saying the two provinces were not in the same position.
ARY did not report a vote or a tally. The emergency in KP was imposed on Sunday. This debate does not change that.
