HUNDREDS DIE IN BALOCHISTAN FLASH FLOODS

Thousands of people have been killed in flash floods triggered by torrential rains in Jaffarabad, Naseerabad and Jhal Magsi districts of Balochistan while no serious steps are being taken by the Government to provide relief to the flood-stricken people. This session of the Balochistan Assembly started 25 minutes late and chaired by the Deputy Speaker Syed Matiullah Agha on Friday. Speaking on point of order, Provincial Minister for Zakaat Saleem Khoso said that flash floods caused by hill torrents of Dera Bugti and Sui after the heavy downpours lashed the region had played havoc at a large scale, killing hundreds of people of Naseerabad, Jaffarabad and Jhal Magsi districts. He said that although less number of deaths was told adding that but there were high number of casualties in areas affected by gushing floods. Khoso said that flash floods had destroyed total area of Jaffarabad district as still four feet deep flood water is standing in Dera Allahyar, the district headquarters of Jaffarabad. He said that most land area of Naseerabad district was also inundated by flash flood that had caused widespread destruction. He alleged that if Irrigation Department had not paid serious attention to strengthen embankments of canals flowing in Eastern Balochistan after the 2010 floods, then minimum losses might take place in recent floods of 2012. “Canals of Eastern Balochistan have developed several breaches and irrigation system of the region is badly damaged,” he said. The Balochistan Minister also blamed Sindh Government for diverting flash floods from Jacobabad district of Sindh to Jaffarabad district of Balochistan. He opined that due to wrong designing of Jaffarabad Bypass, level of devastation surged in the region as this several feet high Bypass stopped the flash floods from draining out to barren land from populated areas. Saleem Khosa said that tens of thousands of flood-hit people were deprived of food and potable drinking water and were falling prey to epidemics. Meanwhile The lawmakers of the Balochistan Assembly in the Saturday session adopted two resolutions, the first sought punishment to makers of anti-Islam film and the second withdrawal of road and other taxes from tribal areas of Balochistan respectively. The assembly session started with Deputy Speaker Syed Matiullah Agha in chair. Pakistan Muslim League-Q MPA Sheikh Jaffar Mandokhel moved the resolution that strongly condemned the blasphemous film made in America and sought punishment to the perpetrators who made it. The mover and the provincial ministers including Aainullah Shams, Eng. Zamarak Piralizai, Nasreen Khaitran and Habibur Rehman Muhammad Hasni demanded punishment to hate-mongers who made anti-Islam film to hurt the sentiments of Muslims. The house adopted this resolution unanimously. Another resolution was tabled by the legislators including Molvi Sarwar Musakhel, Sardar Masood Loni and Sheikh Jaffar Mandokhel that sought declaring nine districts of Balochistan exempted from road tax, income tax and motor vehicle tax. They opined that under Article 246 of the Constitution of the country, the districts of Balochistan including Zhob, Qila Abdullah, Qila Saifullah, Shirani, Musakhel, Loralai, Barkhan, Kohlu, Dera Bugti and Dalbandin have been giving status of tribal areas. They were of the view that according to the relevant laws, these areas are exempted from paying road tax, property tax and motor vehicle tax adding therefore, these taxes should not be collected from these nine districts. The lawmakers also approved this resolution unanimously. Later, after completion of other proceedings of the assembly, the chair adjourned the houses till September 24.