Pak sacks Baloch govt, imposes governor rule
Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari on Monday imposed governor’s rule in the troubled Balochistan province after victims of the recent terrorism staged a 4-day sit-in along with the dead bodies of their loved ones seeking sacking of the provincial government.
Prime Minister Raja Pervez Asharf had announced imposition of governor’s rule in Balochistan as he met the families of Quetta blast victims late on Sunday night and the notification was issued by the presidency on Monday.
The Prime Minister held informal negotiations with the Hazara community leaders present there and then announced that the government of chief minister Aslam Raisani is being dismissed under article 234 of the Constitution and governor Nawab Zulfiqar Ali Magsi will be the chief executive of Balochistan from Monday.
However, leaders of Hazara community said they would end their sit-in only when the notification of governor’s rule will be issued.
There was also some fuss over the issue of Quetta city’s security as the PM initially said that Frontier Corps (FC), which have been given extensive powers, will look after the law and order in the capital, but the protesters insisted on handing over the city control to the Army.
Taking a lenient line, the PM said that after imposition of governor’s rule, the governor will decide about this issue and he may call in the Army.
He announced that compensation to the victim families will be paid even before January 31, as demanded by the protesters.
The Prime Minister asked protesters to tell governor Balochistan and FC commander about their problems, adding that action would be taken immediately.
He assured the protesters that federal government would fully cooperate with the governor.
The Prime Minister Raja Pervez Asharf had arrived in Quetta on Sunday to defuse the tension gripping the capital of restive Balochistan after the deadly blasts that claimed more than 120 lives and left more than 150 wounded.
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