By: DILSHAD AZEEM
ISLAMABAD - PML President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain Thursday ruled out possibility of military operation in Balochistan and told the National Assembly that all political parties have consensus over 27 out of 31 recommendations of a sub-committee, headed by Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed, to resolve grievances of the province.
?oAnother committee, which is headed by Wasim Sajjad, is expected to complete its task by March 12-14 to prepare a constitutional package, and Balochistan issues would be resolved through political means not military approach,? Shujaat said while giving update in the national assembly during debate on Balochistan.
Asking the nationalist members to end their boycott of the proceedings of the parliamentary committee, Shujaat invited all political parties to join hands on Dr. Shazia case in order to give exemplary punishment to the culprits and shun the possibilities of such incidents in future.
About important points, Shujaat told the national assembly that under consensus recommendations of the sub-committee, headed by Mushahid Hussain, the Balochistan province would get comprehensive development package.
Under these recommendations it would be compulsory to spend major chunk of resources at areas from where oil and gas is explored. He said new agreements with exploration companies would include that substantial amounts would be spent at local area for education and health. Also, the royalty issue would be resolved as Dilawar Abbas has given a formula, while a package of billions of rupees would be prepared for Gwadar people and highway would be constructed for uplift of the province.
Besides, it would be compulsory for FC to remain within its jurisdiction of checking narcotics and arms movement instead of conducting raids out of their respective areas. A special package will be prepared for Sui uplift under which billions of rupees would be spent.
Shujaat said that the NFC Award would be finalized while incorporating other factors instead of maintaining the previous formula of basing upon population solely. The funds would be distributed also on the bases of poverty, backwardness and development.
The PML president said all matters will be resolved through the parliament as the parliamentary committee is working on the issues.
?oI appeal to all the political forces to join hands to resolve the Balochistan issues instead of making the province as a political arena.?
Shujaat said he was facing allegations of favouring Akbar Bugti who had refused to become part of a conspiracy to murder Chaudhry Zahoor Elahi while shifting the late from Balochistan jail to Punjab.
?oI want to make it clear that neither the military operations are being carried out nor these would take place as being apprehended by some elements.?
He reminded that the 38-member parliamentary committee has 16 members from the PML and rests of the 22 are from other political parties and therefore no one can object over its constitution.
?oTwo things were decided while establishing the committee that the happenings in Balochistan and party affiliations would not affect in spearheading the task,? he recalled.
The national assembly continued debate on Balochistan as several members from treasury and opposition spoke on the subject.
Meanwhile, the opposition parties staged a walkout from the national assembly to protest against the Speaker for not allowing speaking after General Pervez Musharraf announced to build Kalabagh dam while addressing Nowshera rally. First, the PPP-P members walked out of the House and were later joined by the MMA and other opposition parties.
However, the chair allowed PPP-P MNA from Sindh Qurban Ali Shah and Abdul Mujeeb Pirzada to speak after ending the walkout as both the members opposed Kalabagh dam?Ts construction whereas Parliamentary Affairs Minister Sher Afgan Niazi rejected their stand and called for building of not only Kalabagh but also other mega dams.
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