Opposition lawmakers and their supporters block access to the Balochistan Assembly

Chaotic scenes erupted outside Balochistan Assembly Friday as Opposition lawmakers and supporters held a protest outside the assembly and were baton-charged by the police.

Police said Opposition lawmakers had locked all four doors of the Balochistan Assembly to prevent the budget session from taking place today.

The Opposition’s protest and clashes intensified when Chief Minister Balochistan Jam Kamal Khan arrived at the assembly.

Quetta: Balochistan Assembly turned into battlefield, as Opposition MPAs thrown bottles at Chief Minister Jam Kamal, who was taken inside Assembly Hall in massive security.#Balochistan pic.twitter.com/PbqDQ5CL2D

— Asim Ahmed khan (@leokhanasim) June 18, 2021

“We will not let the budget be passed until our demands are met,” the protesting lawmakers said.

The sit-in has been staged against the “disregard for Opposition constituencies and release of funds to unelected persons”.

Clashes erupted when police arrived at the assembly gate at the MPA Hostel when Opposition lawmakers and police exchanged heated words. Police managed to open the doors of the assembly so that the government lawmakers could enter for the budget session.

Prior to this, supporters of the Opposition parties had blocked national highways in several cities of Balochistan. The Opposition accused the government of ignoring development projects in the budget.

Opposition lawmakers had warned they would not let the provincial government present the budget on Friday.

Leaders of the Opposition parties, according to Dawn, said they would not allow any MPA to enter the assembly on Friday if their proposed development projects were not included in the provincial Annual Development Programme (ADP).