The Balochistan Assembly has disposed of a resolution seeking the immediate abolition of the Sardari system. The proposal also called for banning the use of the titles Sardar and Nawab.
Jamaat-i-Islami MPA Hidayatur Rehman Baloch moved the resolution during the provincial assembly session on Monday. However, Speaker Captain (retired) Abdul Khaliq Achakzai said existing legislation had already addressed the issue.
The speaker explained that a review of legal and judicial records showed the legislation abolishing the Sardari system was passed and implemented in 1976. He added that the law applied across the country, including Balochistan.
Based on the existing legal position, the speaker decided to dispose of the resolution. The move ended the assembly’s consideration of the proposal without introducing new legislation.
Speaker Refers to Existing Law and Court Decisions
During the session, the speaker referred to previous legal developments concerning the Sardari system. He said the Balochistan High Court had issued decisions on the matter.
According to the speaker, those decisions were upheld by the Federal Constitutional Court on March 6 this year. He cited the existing legislation and judicial record as reasons for disposing of the resolution.
Hidayatur Rehman had sought action to ensure the implementation of the law abolishing the Sardari system. The Jamaat-i-Islami lawmaker argued that the issue required attention from the provincial assembly.
The speaker acknowledged that Rehman’s point should be heard. He said the lawmaker was seeking the enforcement of legislation already enacted to abolish the system.
However, the resolution was disposed of in view of the legal position presented to the house.
Exchange of Remarks Between Lawmakers
The resolution’s disposal was followed by an exchange of taunts between Hidayatur Rehman and Opposition Leader Mir Younis Aziz Zehri. Members of the treasury benches also spoke in support of the opposition leader.
Parliamentary Secretary Agha Umer Ahmedzai defended the historical presence of the Sardari system. He said the system had existed for thousands of years and argued that one individual could not declare the entire system wrong.
Another parliamentary secretary, Nawabzada Zarain Khan Magsi, said the matter should not be discussed further. He pointed out that the speaker had already disposed of the resolution.
The exchange highlighted differing views among lawmakers about the issue. However, the assembly did not proceed with a fresh legislative proposal during the session.
Balochistan Assembly Session Adjourned
The session was eventually adjourned until November 10 because of a lack of quorum. The assembly therefore ended its proceedings before continuing its legislative business.
The resolution had called for abolishing the Sardari system in Balochistan and prohibiting the titles Sardar and Nawab. Its disposal followed the speaker’s explanation that existing legislation and court decisions had already addressed the matter.
The speaker also emphasized that the resolution’s sponsor was seeking implementation of the existing law. The discussion did not result in a new ban on the titles during the session.
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Further developments would depend on future assembly proceedings and any steps taken to enforce the existing legislation.
