The Balochistan Opposition lawmakers who were staging a sit-in inside a police station in Quetta have ended their protest after the provincial government withdrew an FIR against them for allegedly attacking the assembly and treasury bench MPAs ahead of the provincial budget on June 18, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Sunday.

The provincial government withdrew the FIR registered against 17 MPAs of opposition parties of the Balochistan Assembly. The Balochistan government also issued a notification regarding withdrawal of the case.

On June 18, the legislators belonging to opposition parties held a sit-in outside the Balochistan Assembly‘s building in a bid to stop the provincial finance minister from presenting the budget.

The atmosphere turned tense after the opposition’s members stopped the assistant commissioner from entering the provincial assembly. They started throwing flowerpots and stones at security officials and government lawmakers.

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Clashes erupted between the police and the opposition lawmakers when Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Kamal Khan arrived at the assembly. The opposition MPAs were of the view that they will not let the budget session to be held.

Later, the police registered the FIR against the 17 MPAs, including the opposition leader in the provincial legislature, on charges of attacking the provincial legislature and treasury bench lawmakers.

A day earlier the government excluded the names of the opposition lawmakers from the FIR but the MPAs staging protest inside Bijli Road Police Station in Quetta where then went to court their arrest, refused to end their protest demanding the government to fully withdraw the FIR.

After wrapping up their protest, MPA Malik Sikandar Advocate said their first demand was to take back the FIR.

Late last night, a government delegation led by Home Minister Mir Ziaullah Langov, Mobeen Khilji and Arif Muhammad Hasni visited the police station and handed over a copy of the notification regarding withdrawal of the FIR to the Opposition.

An image of the notification.

Later, Opposition leader Malik Sikandar Advocate announced to call off their protest inside the police station, saying their first demand was the issuance of the notification regarding withdrawal of the FIR which has been accepted and now the Opposition had ended their protest inside the police station.

Regarding Opposition’s other demands, Malik Sikandar said they will register their protest for acceptance of their remaining demand on the floor of the assembly.

After his announcement, the protesting Opposition lawmakers left the police station. 

Reporter Rizwan Saeed