Bugti assures opposition of mines minerals briefing
QUETTA: Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti has assured the provincial assembly that the opposition will be taken into confidence on all matters relating to mines and minerals and the forest department. The mines minerals briefing will take place at a dedicated meeting to be convened next week, where lawmakers will be walked through the details.
The chief minister gave the assurance during a lively session that also saw sharp exchanges over the wrapping of a scholar’s body in a banned outfit’s flag, the registration of religious seminaries, and land ownership rights in Gwadar.
Mr Bugti told the House the government would ensure consultation with opposition members on all issues connected with the province’s natural resources. He said a comprehensive briefing would cover the reasons behind land allocations to the forest department, a subject that has drawn repeated questions from the opposition benches.
The chief minister said the government was digitising land records for the first time in 78 years, an exercise he said would bring clarity to ownership disputes lingering for decades.
The assurance came in response to concerns raised by National Party MPA Dr Abdul Malik Baloch. Dr Baloch pointed out that residents of several areas in Gwadar did not possess legal ownership documents for their land, and said a similar situation existed in Quetta’s Mariabad area.
He urged the chief minister to refer the matter to the Member Board of Revenue so it could be decided on merit. Dr Baloch also questioned why land belonging to the people of Balochistan was being allocated to the forest department, and asked whether rare earth metals were present in those areas. Mr Bugti replied that the allocations were longstanding and a detailed briefing would explain their background.
Khetran condemns flag on scholar’s body
Earlier, provincial minister Sardar Abdul Rehman Khetran spoke on a point of order to condemn the wrapping of Dr Hakim Lehri’s body in the flag of a banned organisation after his death.
Mr Khetran described Dr Lehri as an intellectual and an institution in his own right, and said he was surprised the body of such a man had been draped in the flag of a proscribed militant organisation.
Terrorists were enemies of the Baloch people, the minister said, arguing that the destruction of bridges in bomb attacks ultimately harmed the people of the province. He said he would neither attend the funeral nor visit the bereaved family, because the body had been wrapped in the banned outfit’s flag.
He also praised the services of Balochistan’s former corps commander and hoped the newly appointed corps commander would follow in his predecessor’s footsteps. The province’s security operations against militants remain a central concern for the government.
Madressah bill and law and order
Leader of the Opposition Younus Aziz Zehri and Public Accounts Committee Chairman Asghar Ali Tareen raised the madressah bill. They said a commitment had been made under the 26th Constitutional Amendment to register religious seminaries, but alleged seminaries were being sealed instead. They urged the PPP and PML-N leadership to implement the commitment in Balochistan.
PPP parliamentary leader Sadiq Umrani replied that his party honoured its commitments and asked the opposition to provide a draft bill for the party leadership to consider.
JUI-F MPA Fazal Qadir Mandokhail voiced concern over the deteriorating law and order situation and called for an in-camera briefing for lawmakers. His demand reflects unease over militant attacks on infrastructure and rising violence, even as the capital moves ahead with a major surveillance upgrade.
The session was reported from Quetta by Dawn correspondent Saleem Shahid. The original account of the proceedings is available from Dawn.
FAQ
What did CM Bugti promise the opposition?
He assured the Balochistan Assembly that opposition members would be taken into confidence and given a full mines minerals briefing next week, covering forest department land allocations.
Why did Khetran refuse to attend Dr Lehri’s funeral?
Sardar Abdul Rehman Khetran said he would not attend because Dr Hakim Lehri’s body had been wrapped in the flag of a banned organisation, which he condemned.
What is the madressah bill dispute?
The opposition says a 26th Amendment commitment to register religious seminaries is being violated as seminaries are sealed instead. The PPP has asked for a draft bill to forward to its leadership.
What land issues were raised about Gwadar?
Dr Abdul Malik Baloch said Gwadar residents lack legal ownership documents and questioned forest department land allocations. The chief minister said land records are being digitised after 78 years.
