Balochistan Assembly speaker disposes of resolution on sardari system
Speaker Abdul Khaliq Achakzai disposed of a resolution seeking abolition of the sardari system, saying a 1976 Act already abolished it. The session was adjourned until 10 November after the House lost its quorum.
- The resolution sought abolition of the sardari system and a ban on the titles Sardar and Nawab.
- The speaker said a 1976 Act abolished the system and courts have upheld this.
- The session was adjourned until 3 pm on 10 November after losing its quorum.
A resolution seeking the immediate abolition of the sardari system in Balochistan and a ban on the titles Sardar and Nawab in speech and writing was disposed of in the Balochistan Assembly on Monday, without being moved.
The resolution was listed on the agenda by Jamaat-e-Islami member Maulana Hidayatur Rahman Baloch. Speaker Captain (retd) Abdul Khaliq Achakzai told the House that the legal and judicial record had been reviewed.
According to the speaker, the sardari system had already been abolished by an Act passed in 1976, which remains in force across the country. He added that the Balochistan High Court had issued judgments on the matter, and that the Federal Constitutional Court upheld them on 6 March 2026. In view of this position, he ruled that the resolution stood disposed of.
Hidayatur Rahman then rose on a point of order, said the resolution had been on the agenda, and announced that he would revise the text and present it again. Leader of the Opposition Mir Younas Aziz Zehri argued that once the speaker had disposed of the resolution, the subject could not be reopened. The two members exchanged sharp and sarcastic remarks, according to The Express Tribune.
Parliamentary Secretary Agha Umar Ahmedzai said the sardari system had existed for thousands of years and was not the creation of one individual. He said anyone guilty of oppression or injustice should be identified and held accountable, and that blanket accusations against all Sardars were unfair. Several government members spoke in support of the opposition leader's position.
Parliamentary Secretary Nawabzada Zarrin Magsi backed the ruling, saying the resolution had been disposed of and further discussion was unnecessary. He said anyone wishing to pursue the matter should bring a fresh resolution.
Speaker Achakzai said that although he had disposed of the resolution, Hidayatur Rahman was in effect asking for implementation of the existing law, and his point deserved to be heard. Before discussion could continue, the House lost its quorum. The speaker adjourned the session until 3 pm on 10 November.
Why it matters
The ruling concerns the legal status of the tribal sardari system, which bears on governance in Balochistan. The matter may return to the assembly if a fresh resolution is brought.
