Language Barrier: Issue of Distortion in the Oath of New Members of the Balochistan Assembly

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The oath of the newly elected member of the Balochistan Provincial Assembly, Mir Ali Hassan Zehri, may be considered insufficient.

Former President of the Supreme Court Bar Association, Amanullah Kannerani, emphasized that newly elected assembly members are facing difficulties in taking the oath as per the Constitution, especially in pronouncing the words of the oath in Urdu.

Kannerani stated that some members either omitted or shortened parts of the oath, which led to non-compliance with the requirements set out in the Constitution’s schedule.

According to Kannerani, it is crucial that the oath as prescribed in the Constitution is read in its entirety and accurately.

If there is difficulty in reading the oath in Urdu, at least members should be allowed to take the oath in their mother tongue with the consent of the house, just as Nawab Mohammad Akbar Khan Bugti refused to take the oath in Urdu during the 1990s and insisted on taking it in his native Balochi.

He further added that such language difficulties cannot be overlooked, and finding a solution to this issue is necessary to fulfill constitutional requirements.

He also drew a parallel to Imran Khan, who, after facing objections from scholars, re-married during the waiting period. Similarly, fulfilling constitutional requirements may necessitate members taking the oath again.

This issue highlights the importance of adhering to the Constitution to ensure that every member’s oath is complete and in accordance with the law.