Dissident group emerges in ruling PML in Balochistan
Pakistan Times National News Desk

QUETTA: Serious difference in the ruling PML have publicly surfaced as some 14 MPAs in the party are not satisfied with MMA allegedly for unfair allocation of funds for development schemes under the public sector development programme (PSDP).

The group of dissident in the PML has approached the leader of opposition Mir Kachkole Ali for his support to block the process of provincial budget which is being presented on June 22 in case their demands are not accepted. The demands inter alia include the fair allocation of funds of development which have been denied by the senior Minister Maulana Abdul Wasey of MMA in charge of Planning and Development Department.

The members alleged that bulk of the funds have been allocated in the constituencies of the MMA members while there is drastic cut in funds for the development schemes in the constituencies of the PML and other parties.

The PML dissident members pointed out that the chief minister belonged to PML while all other important portfolios have been allocated to the MMA depriving the Muslim League to serve their respective constituencies which would naturally undermine the role of PML candidates in the forthcoming local council elections.

These MPAs are interested for the transfer of senior officials of the department which are held by the MMA as it considered its prerogative right to retain the officer or not. This situation has also brought unrest among the dissident MPAs. They left for Islamabad to apprise of the situation to the central high command and seek their guidance of their conduct in the budget session.

The dissident group also made a public statement pleading the MMA to accept the office of the chief minister and the departments which have been held by the MMA should be transferred to the Muslim League ministers.

Because of the insignificant portfolios the senior member of the PML decline to accept the offer and consequently these portfolios were allotted to junior members of the PML which is a source of continuous heart burning creating political chaos between the coalition parties.

The opposition has declared its support to Chief Minister Jam Yusuf in case the MMA quits the coalition. It is inclined to join the cabinet provided MMA is out of the cabinet.

This situation has disappointed the dissident group of the PML as the opposition will only support the group if it stop advances with the MMA. The stand of the opposition group is common for the fair allocation of funds for development schemes in all the constituencies belonging to the treasury as well as opposition benches.

The actual position is that little funds are available in the next PSDP as the lion share of funds will be earmarked to complete the ongoing schemes. According to reports the provincial PSDP would be of the size of Rs 9 billions and out of it 8 billions would be for the ongoing schemes while one billion would be left for the new schemes which is in fact the main concern of the dissident group of the PML as it would have no face saving before their voters in the field of development activities.

This scenario is creating difficulties for the chief minister as to how to bail out the situation unless central high command comes forward to find a solution. They may be accommodated from the federal PSDP to allocate some funds for the development in their areas hitherto remained neglected.●