QUETTA: The discussion about the kidnapping of children in Balochistan continued in the provincial assembly on Friday, with lawmakers demanding action to stop these incidents.

The assembly session, presided over by Speaker Abdul Khaliq Achakzai, started 30 minutes after its scheduled time.

Prince Agha Umar Ahmedzai, a government lawmaker, started his speech soon after the assembly session resumed after three days.

Mr Ahmedzai of Balochistan Awami Party, which is part of the Sarfraz Bugti-led coalition government, talked about the kidnapping of an 11-year-old boy, which has resulted in huge protests in Quetta.

BAP MPA says police don’t cooperate with victims’ families

He said the child was taken away by armed men at gunpoint while going to school in a van last Friday.

A similar kidnapping of a five-year-old child took place a few days back, he added.

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The BAP lawmaker expressed serious concern over these kidnappings and claimed JUI-F supporters, who had gone to police after the abduction of the five-year-old child, were taken into custody.

He said police officials were not cooperating with the victims in the cases of kidnappings.

On the kidnapping in Quetta, he said there was no information about the child’s whereabouts despite a week since the kidnapping.

He suggested the speaker form a parliamentary committee comprising the inspector general of police and a senior official of the Home Department to tackle these incidents.

“We have to take measures to resolve this issue. Otherwise, things will keep worsening for the government,” Mr Ahmedzai claimed.

Dr Abdul Malik Baloch, the chief of National Party, criticised the absence of government members from the session and urged the speaker to ensure their attendance.

He said it was unfair to expect the opposition to ensure the quorum alone.

Later, the house adopted a condolence resolution as a tribute to the services of former MPA Maulana Allah Dad Khairkhwa, who passed away two days back.

JUIF’s Mir Zabid Ali Reki moved the resolution, expressing deep sorrow over the ex-lawmaker’s demise.

The resolution stated that Mr Khairkhwa was a lawmaker from Quetta in 1997.

The lawmakers offered condolences to the bereaved family and prayed for the departed soul. After the resolution, the session was adjourned without conducting any further proceedings.

Published in Dawn, November 23th, 2024