NA Speaker Ayaz Sadiq visits Chief Minister’s Secretariat in Quetta, meets Sarfraz Bugti

QUETTA: National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq visited the Chief Minister’s Secretariat in Quetta on Wednesday. He met Chief Minister Balochistan Mir Sarfraz Bugti, members of the provincial cabinet, and government and opposition members. The meeting discussed matters of mutual interest, the development of Balochistan, public issues and the promotion of democratic and parliamentary traditions in the province.

Chief Minister: Difference of opinion is the beauty of democracy

Welcoming the National Assembly Speaker to Quetta, Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti said his visit to Balochistan was a source of joy and honour for all. He said Balochistan was everyone’s home, and the province had a tradition of democratic values, mutual respect and political tolerance between the government and the opposition.

The Chief Minister said the government and the opposition in the Balochistan Assembly did criticise each other, but strong traditions of ethics, decorum and respect existed. He said difference of opinion was the basic beauty of democracy, and the opposition had a democratic right to criticise the government. Keeping political differences within the bounds of mutual respect, he said, was part of Balochistan’s positive political tradition.

Mir Sarfraz Bugti said government and opposition members sitting together reflected Balochistan’s positive political culture and democratic maturity. He said mutual respect among political leaders and their sitting down together to talk sent a positive message to guests from other provinces and abroad. He expressed the hope that this tradition of tolerance, forbearance and mutual respect would continue to grow stronger in the future.

Ayaz Sadiq: Three generations of ties with Balochistan

National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq spoke of his long-standing attachment and affection for Balochistan. He said his ties with Balochistan were not merely political but also emotional and familial. Three generations of his family had been associated with the province, and this affection had been passed down from generation to generation. He said Balochistan was not a stranger to him. He always felt a sense of belonging and affection there, and the people of the province had always shown him respect, love and sincerity.

He said his doors were always open to all members from Balochistan and to every person in the province. He said every possible cooperation would be ensured from the platform of the National Assembly to resolve public problems and for the development of the province. He said Balochistan was the most important province of Pakistan, and its development was in fact the development of the whole of Pakistan. The federation, he said, would continue to extend every possible support for the progress, prosperity and problems of the people of Balochistan.

Sardar Ayaz Sadiq praised the hospitality of the people of Balochistan. He said their love and hospitality were unmatched, and whenever he came to Balochistan he felt as if he had come among his own people and to his own home.

During the meeting, Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti and National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq agreed that promoting mutual respect, consultation and cooperation among political leaders was an important need of the time for the development of Balochistan, public welfare and the promotion of democratic values.

Photos: courtesy DGPR Balochistan