Quetta:
Balochistan assembly witnessed chaotic scenes as the peaceful protest of the opposition members were met with Police violence including tear gas, baton charge and driving vehicle on the protesters. The incident sparked lawsuits and condemnations across the province.
The police actions left at least five injured including four elected representatives of the Balochistan Assembly.
This comes as members of the opposition were protesting outside the assembly against what they term as anti-people policies of the ruling Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) and its budget.
The disgruntled lawmakers have been accusing the provincial government of disregarding their constituencies in the budget and of financing the terror activities of the death squads in Balochistan.
A few days ago, one of the members of the provincial assembly, Akbar Mengal, accused the ruling BAP of allocating a huge sum of money to terrorist groups involved in the enforced disappearances and extra-judicial killings of the dissidents in Balochistan.
Despite the opposition’s lawmakers’ protest, the budget session commenced under the chair of Speaker Abdul Qudoos Bizenjo and Balochistan Finance Minister Mir Zahoor Ahmad Buledi presented the budget.
The government announced a budget worth Rs584 billion with a huge deficit of Rs84 billion.
The opposition members on the other hand have called for a major strike on Saturday against the heavy-handed response of the Police and the provincial budget.