QUETTA - Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Abdul Quddus Bizenjo Tuesday thanked Asif Ali Zardari, Imran Khan and Fata senators for electing Muhammad Sadiq Sanjrani as the Senate chairman and vowed to make efforts to bring prime minister from Balochistan after the forthcoming general elections.
Addressing a press conference at the CM secretariat, Bizenjo said, “We had a lot of expectations of support from Balochistan nationalist parties’ in the Senate polls, but they disappointed us,” the chief minister lamented.
On this occasion, the chief minister was flanked by Home Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti, Local Government Minister Mir Ghulam Dastagir Badini and other ministers.
Mir Abdul Qddus Bizenjo said they had contacted Pakistan People’s Party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, MQM and Fata senators to seek their support to get Muhammad Sadiq Sanjrani elected as the Senate chairman and they fully backed the Balochistan candidate for the top Senate slot. “All these parties and Fata senators unconditionally voted for our candidate and this made the victory of Sadiq Sanjrani possible,” affirmed Bizenjo.
The chief minister regretted the Balochistan nationalist parties, instead of voting for the candidate of the province, launched a negative propaganda against him.
He went on to say the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) was his government’s priority, adding release of funds from the Centre for scores of Balochistan projects had yet to take place.
Chief Minister Bizenjo reiterated they would contest the next elections with the agenda to bring prime minister from Balochistan. He asserted the province must be allocated funds keeping in view its area rather than its population. He appealed to the masses to elect those candidates who could struggle for their rights.
Responding to a query regarding new delimitation of constituencies, he said they would soon submit their objections to the Election Commission of Pakistan in this regard.
NON-BAILABLE ARREST WARRANTS
An accountability court on Tuesday issued non-bailable arrest warrants for accused in stents procurement irregularities case over failure to appear before the court.
Technical expert Assistant Professor Dr Shuhaib Ahmed Qureshi and employ of Pharmacist Medical Store Department Quetta Rehmatullah Khan were the accused nominated in the scam.
As the hearing began, the former head of Cardiology Ward Dr. Abid Amin, Additional Director MSD Dr Muhammad Yousaf Bezenjo, former director general Health Services Balochistan Dr Masood Qadir Nosherwani, former director (logistics) Health Services Balochistan Dr. Esa Khan Jogezai, Dr Atta Muhammad, former additional MSD Dr Abdul Ghafar Kiani, Assistant Professor Medicine Department Bolan Medical Complex Dr Saeed Ahmed and others appeared before the Accountability Court Quetta Judge Abdul Majeed Nasar in millions of rupees embezzlement scam reported in stents purchasing for cardiac patients.
However, two more accused – Assistant Professor Dr. Shuhaib Ahmed Qureshi and Rehmatullah Khan – failed to attend hearing over which the court issued non-bailable arrest warrants against them.
The accountability court also provided the copies of reference to all those appearing before the court and adjourned proceedings till March 26.
The NAB has already arrested Additional Director MSD Dr Muhammad Yousaf Bezenjo, Chief Executive Officer of private company Healthtech, Dr. Nowsherwan Yar Khan and Chief Operating Officer of Healthtech Ahmed Ali Aslam in the case.
The accused had procured stents at a low price but claimed to have purchased the same on high prices.
The court may indict the accused on next hearing date.
