Balochistan senators protest Nauraiz’s remarks

ISLAMABAD: The Senate was informed on Friday that the government has sold its television broadcasting rights for international matches to Taj Television Ltd and ARD Digital for a period of five years from April 2003 to March 2008 at a cost of $42.6 million.

Minister of state for sports and culture, Rais Munir Ahmad, informed the House that the international bids were invited to ensure that these rights fetch the maximum price through a fair and transparent process. Meanwhile, senators from Balochistan, irrespective of party affiliations, protested here on Friday against the remarks made by petroleum minister Nouraiz Shakoor regarding the law and order condition of the province and termed his remarks a conspiracy against the province.

Mr Shakoor told the House that while the federal government was serious about developing natural resources in Balochistan, it comes under physical fire whenever exploration efforts are undertaken. Senators from the treasury as well as opposition benches took umbrage to his remarks. Senators Kulsoom Parveen and Muheen Baloch from the treasury benches, Dr Aziz Satakzai from the MMA, Raza Muhammad Raza from the PKMAP, Sanaullah Baloch from the BNP and others agitated against the minister’s observation and demanded that resource distribution under Article 158 of the Constitution welcome development efforts in the province. —Staff Report

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