ISLAMABAD – The 24th session of the National Assembly requisitioned by PML-N to discuss the post-flood situation, Saturday, prorogued with 25 members of he Parliament attending the session at that time.
Most of the parliamentarians remained on their seats till the presence of Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani and the Opposition Leader Ch Nisar Ali Khan on the floor of the House. However, no sooner did both the leaders leave the House, than the parliamentarians started disappearing and at the time when the session was prorogued only seventeen members were present in the National Assembly and, of those present, too, most of the MPs were from the MQM.
Surprisingly, there were only five to nine members of the PML-N, the party, which had requisitioned the session. Concluding the session, Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Dr Babar Awan admitted that Rs15 million were spent on the session, however, the MPs could not focus properly on the flood aftermath. He added that the suggestions of the members would be considered in the coming meeting of the CCI.
Earlier addressing the session Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani announced to summon All Parties Conference immediately to discuss the flood situation and the governmentÂ’s plan for relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction in the flood-affected areas with political consensus. The Prime Minister said the government had set priorities to ensure provision of maximum funds for rehabilitation and reconstruction process and under this strategy, the government expenditures would be reduced besides ensuring austerity and suspending development works to divert resources towards rehabilitation of the flood affectees. He said under the strategy all available resources would be utilised for the next three years for reconstruction and rehabilitation activities. He said the NDMA had also chalked out a long-term strategy for rescue, relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction work. PM Gilani said that the government had decided to extend relief process for the next eight months while early recovery process would be completed by December 30 this year.
Gilani informed NA that around Rs4 billion had been accumulated by September 3 in the Prime MinisterÂ’s National Relief Fund. He said the floods had claimed more than 1,600 lives. He further said that some 479 health centres were operational and providing relief to the survivors.
He said the World Bank and Asian Development Bank would complete damage assessment survey by the end of this month (September) while resource mobilisation programme would be launched by December 1, which would continue till completion of reconstruction and rehabilitation process. He said an international donors conference would also be held in Islamabad within next two months. The Prime Minister said that the meeting of the Council of Common Interests had been summoned tomorrow (Monday) in which a consensus rehabilitation and reconstruction policy would be finalised in consultation with the federating units. Giving details of donations received so far, he said 173 flights had so far landed with relief goods while donations from the international community were pouring in rapidly. He said the government had provided an emergency relief of over Rs1.2 billion so far while with the payment of Rs20,000 to each affected family as immediate relief, the relief would touch to Rs40 billion.
Responding some points raised by the Opposition Leader, Gilani said the government had summoned regular National Assembly session but it was postponed due to worsening flood situation in Sindh and Punjab.
Prime Minister said $1.03 billion donation had been received from various countries including Saudi Arabia, USA, UK, Germany, China, European Union and other countries. He said 20 per cent of the donation would be spent through government while 80 per cent would be spent through NGOs.
However, he said transparency would be ensured in expenditure of these funds. Leader of the Opposition Ch Nisar Ali Khan, however, said the opposition might have differences with the government on various issues but it would not support any force to destabilise the system. He said Opposition would stand by the government for protection of the Constitution and democracy in the country.
However, he said Opposition would not become part of the wrongdoings of the government and would never come to save it for its wrong doings.
Taking part in the debate, legislators criticised Sindh Government for breaking Tori Blockage causing flood in Balochistan and Sindh.
They demanded judicial inquiry into the incident. The MPs urged the federal government to write off the loans of the flood-affected people and provide free seeds and fertilizers to farmers. They also condemned the blast and firing incident on a religious rally in Quetta. The MPs who took part in the debate included Ghaus Bux Mahar, Khwaj Sheraz, Sh Waqqas Akram, Ijaz Jakhranni, Mir Hazar Khan Bijarani, Abdul Qadir Balouch, Salahuddin, Malik Ammad, Sherry Arshad, Saqlain Shah Bukhari, Hamayun Saifullah Khan and others.
APP adds – Members of the National Assembly Saturday demanded of the government to launch a judicial probe into the breach of Tori and other embankments causing huge devastation in the surrounding areas, and bring the culprits to justice.
On the second consecutive day, the House resumed discussion on the situation arising out of mass devastation to life and property caused by the recent floods in the country, initiated after the House unanimously adopted a motion.
Resuming discussion, Minister for Industries and Production Mir Hazaar Khan Bijarani said the flood changed the geography of the affected areas and suggested the formation of judicial commission to probe into breaching of Tori embankment that has ignited a blame game. He said the volume of disaster in floods was highest ever and proposed waiving off loans besides providing further loans and other facilities to the flood affected population.
He said the filling of breach in Tori Bund is essential to avoid further devastation and said linking of rail and road links is essential.
Abdul Qadir Baloch said the flood was not directed towards Balochistan and the province was intentionally put under water and judicial inquiry into breaches would be meaningless until the culprits were not brought to justice.
He said 10 gates of Sukkur Barrage were totally closed and not more than 900,000 cusecs can pass through the barrage and rest of the water was flowing from Guddu Barrage, seeking investigation into it. He said people of flood-affected Dera Allah Yar and Jacobabad were neither provided boats nor other relief items and suggested construction of floodgates on right and left banks to save barrages.
Justice Fakhr-un Nisa Khokhar said the ground situation was totally different from what had been portrayed and affected population had been living without assistance.
She criticised the rescue operation and said there should have been a control room and said the people were hesitant to move to flood camps due to insecurity of their belongings as well as life. Ayaz Ali Sherazi said people feel uncertain about the future of their properties while being in camps and are eyeing the government assistance. He also applauded the relief efforts of different political parties extending all possible assistance to the flood victims, nullifying the notions of dishonesty and corruption in distribution of relief items.
Minister for Sports Mir Aijaz Hussain Jakhrani said the Jacobabad faced worst disaster due to floods as the district has been disconnected from rest of the province and several villages have been washed away. He called for probe into the breach in Tori embankment and asked as to why the flood has hit Balochistan province, adding that floods have devastated the right bank totally.
He suggested waiving of agricultural loans and provision of seeds to farmers without any cost to make them stand on their feet, adding the government is alive to the situation and is sincere to relief and rehabilitation of the flood-hit population. Sher Muhammad Baloch criticised some news anchorpersons and political leaders, who, he said, were pursuing an agenda to malign the leadership of Pakistan Peoples Party and destabilise democratic system.
He said the country was faced with the devastation of floods but some political elements were politicising the situation for their political or personal gains.
Saqlain Bukhari said 700 acres of Layyah District had been destroyed due to floods causing loss of billions of rupees and applauded determination to revive their position. He said eight union councils of his constituency have faced inestimable loss of infrastructure and communication set up but concrete steps for reconstruction and rehabilitation of the area are awaited.
Gul Muhammad Jakhrani said the floods initiated from Tori Bund in his constituency had displaced 376,000 people destroyed 240 public buildings and damaged 60,324 homes. He said the Federal Flood Commission had revealed that 19,8000 people of Punjab were affected but within a couple of days the number was shown as above 80,000 that needs to be probed and sought representation from Sindh in the Commission. He said flood-hit people are not being allowed to settle in Karachi rather they are targeted, suggesting the House to set up an independent commission to probe the breach of embankments. Dr Abdul Qadir Khanzada said affected people seem to be dissatisfied from the governmentÂ’s efforts in first phase of rescue.
He said during the two-day discussion neither the Government nor the Opposition had suggested effective steps to expedite relief process, adding that helping flood victims by taking loans from international monetary organizations is contrary to national dignity. Khanzada told the House that he knew names of people involved in creating breaches in embankments and suggested a Judicial Commission to look into it.
Aftab Shaban Mirani said more than 300,000 acres of Shikarpur have been inundated by floods following breach in Tori embankment. He said 40,000 are being served meal twice a day, 35,000 people are being provided dry ration and lauded efforts of Pakistan Army and Navy for airlifting the stranded people and establishing camps for relief of affected population.