GWADAR: Mir Asadullah Baloch, MPA and president of the Balochistan National Party (Awami), has criticized the provincial government for deciding to reduce financing for development schemes in his constituency.
Speaking at a press conference at his residence in Panjgur on Wednesday, he said Rs7 billion had been approved for development schemes in his constituency in the 2023-24 budget, but the current provincial government has slashed the development funds which was an injustice to the people of his constituency.
In addition, Mr. Baloch voiced grave concerns about the state of law and order in Panjgur, claiming that criminal elements had taken over the region and that regular incidences of targeted killings were causing psychological suffering among the populace.
He claimed that along the CPEC route, a group headed by Balach and Saeed is allegedly extorting between Rs. 2.5 and Rs. 3 million per day. Subsequently, the funds are dispersed to prominent local authorities and individuals.
He mentioned the worsening state of law and order in the region, citing the murder of his party worker Peer Jan in Chitkan Bazaar and another murder at a wedding ceremony in Sarawan that left two other people injured.
He said that Sabir Noor and his brother Abid Noor, two of his party’s employees, had been wrongfully arrested, infuriating their relatives. Mr. Baloch insisted on their quick release.
In addition, he berated the local police for not doing enough to safeguard the public and for enabling drug addiction to proliferate among young people.
According to him, extortion would continue unchecked under their supervision, hence the situation in Panjgur would not get better without the transfer of the current SP and assistant commissioner.
Rahmat Baloch, MPA of the National Party, was charged by the BNP-Awami leader with being involved in the extortion scheme along the CPEC route.
He gave the administration until October 14 to resolve these issues, failing which the BNP-Awami would march in protest to the DC office.
