Pakistan

Govt backtracks on commitment to Sharif

President Asif Zardari differs with Prime Minister Gilani on establishing the independent flood relief commission.

Zia Khan August 20, 2010

ISLAMABAD: The government appears to have backtracked on its commitment with PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif to set up a commission for a transparent utilisation of funds for flood victims.

Officials said that President Asif Zardari has differed with Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on establishing the proposed commission of apolitical Pakistanis to oversee relief activities.

At a meeting between the two here on Friday, officials said that Zardari opposed the suggestion floated by Sharif at a joint news conference with Premier Gilani last week.

On Thursday, Gilani announced the formation a National Oversight Disaster Management Council (NODMC) instead of the commission he had promised to Sharif. But there were still hopes the government would keep its words and form the commission.

“It is not going to happen now … provinces did not agree to that proposal,” said the official spokesperson for the commission proposed by Sharif.

There was already an angry reaction from Sharif. “I can’t understand why it is being delayed?” he questioned two day ago.

The Nawaz League said in a statement on Friday that the government was “complicating” the situation by shying away from its commitment.

Experts warn of “severe” backlash if Gilani couldn’t materialise his commitment.

In the meantime, a statement issued by Zardari’s media office said that both leaders expressed determination to tide over the challenge posed by the worst-ever floods with the help of people, political parties, provincial governments and the international community.

Gilani informed the president that nearly Rs1.5 billion had been collected for relief measures in the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund. Briefing the media about the meetings, presidential spokesperson Farhatullah Babar said that it has been decided that separate meetings would be convened for the PPP leaders immediately.

The meeting will make use of the insight of the party leaders and office bearers in making a preliminary damage and needs assessment, and will also assess the mobilisation of human and material resources in facing the adversity.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 21^st, 2010.

COMMENTS (14)

Jonaid Iqbal | 13 years ago | Reply For a change, Mr. Sharif should implement his suggestion of establishing a powerful commission to overseen releief work in Punjab under former MNA Mahmood Achakzai. It could become a model for the centralgoverment to follow. After the three provincial governments, who have opppsed Mr. Sharif's ideas, might also accept it after the independent Punjab Commission registers great success, as it would be

naseer Hussain | 13 years ago | Reply When the issue was brought to the committee which included all the Chief Ministers,every one including Shahbaz Sharif opposed it(he kept silent).Does this mean that the Mians house is divided? or one of the two brothers is always right?

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Dr. Altaf ul Hassan | 13 years ago | Reply I am unable to understand why do we people are in a habit of falsely accusing some one when the facts are obvious to all of us.In other words President Zardari accused as he has “disobeyed the orders” given to him through Prime Minister from Mr. Sahrif for constitution of a commission comprising the persons of Mr. Sharif’s chioce.Whereas,the fact is that his suggestion was discussed in a cabinte meeting attended by all the Cheif Ministers and no one approved this suggestion.So where comes Zardari in the scene?

Dr. Altaf ul Hassan | 13 years ago | Reply I am unable to understand why we do people are in a habit of falsely accusing some one when the facts are obvious to all of us.In other words President Zardari accused as he has "disobeyed the orders" given to him through Prime Minister from Mr. Sahrif for constitution of a commission comprising the persons of Mr. Sharif's chioce.Whereas,the fact is that his suggestion was discussed in a cabinte meeting attended by all the Cheif Ministers and no one approved this suggestion.So where comes Zardari in the scene?

Mubeen Haider | 13 years ago | Reply Nawaz & Zardari both trying to include there own force in commisson of "loot-maar" .......... They are not working or making commission for flood...

mussarat ahmedzeb swat | 13 years ago | Reply @ Aftab Kenneth Wilson good memory.

Tanzeel | 13 years ago | Reply Expected, Zardari checkmates Shareef's cunning move.

Atif | 13 years ago | Reply I could not understand that why Nawaz League is believing the promises made by the PPP, is this the first time they did this? Everybody knows that our prime minister is dummy, actual powers are in Presidency so who should believe this president. I could not understand why Nawaz league is reminding & forcing to Prime minister to act upon his statement. They have different sort of Politics camouflage with Mr. Zardari’s approach But the question is who is suffering that is People of Pakistan.

Usman | 13 years ago | Reply I got an idiom for Nawaz Sharif - fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me. Nawaz Sharif has been duped by Zardari yet again and it makes me wonder if Nawaz Sharif has any common sense. Let's go back to 2008 when Sharif and Zardari were always hugging and holding hands while planning to oust Musharraf. Once that was done, Zardari conveniently ignored Sharif. Zardari later broke all promises that he made to Sharif and the awam about reinstating the Chief Justice - we all remember the "agreements are not Quran/ahadith" speech. This was the second time Sharif was fooled by Zardari. The Chief Justice was reluctantly reinstated due to the growing pressure of General Kayani. Fast forward to 2010, Gilani (Zardari's Dr. Jekyll) promised Sharif that an independent commission would be created to oversee the handling of the flood funds and overall relief activities. When Mr. Hyde Park I mean Mr. Hyde heard about this agreement, and that too with always-gullible Sharif, he put his foot down (with the shoe?) and rejected the whole idea. Although we must blame Zardari for going back on his own Prime Minister's words, we should also blame Sharif for falling for trick again. Does he, Sharif, not understand politics and the whole good cop bad cop drama played by the Gilani-Zardari duo? Does he not understand that Zardari and Gilani are two sides of the same coin? Does he not understand that creating an independent commission would lead to transparency and Zardari for sure would not want that. If Zardari could, he would rather have the other 'doctor' take care of the funds - the same 'doctor' who loves giving out millions and flying in private chartered planes. Sharif sahaab for God's sake try to understand this game and if you can't then please quit politics since you are too 'sharif' (pun intended) or start watching some political talk shows to get a crash course in Pakistani politics. And if you take my advice and starting watching TV please stay away from PTV!

tauseef | 13 years ago | Reply What an unfortunate people we are. The President of this country can not agree on an apolitical body to see over the transparent use of funds. I voted for People's Party the last election but I can't seem to understand what is happening here. Does our honorable President and his cronies see the billions flushing in and they are smacking their lips to get their due share out of it? I think a horrible fate awaits Zardari if he can't handle the disaster with transparency. And the same goes with his cronies Rahman Malik, Salman Taseer, and the likes. I'm no big fan of Nawaz League but at least I can see them making a sincere attempt to

Aftab Kenneth Wilson | 13 years ago | Reply Yaar Sharif sahib, stop it. How much have you flushed out... Oh i forgot you only have Rs.5000/. Sorry.

SK | 13 years ago | Reply @S. Ali Raza Amen to your statement. May these fuedals, pretending to be political leaders, go to hell and soon.

naseeb | 13 years ago | Reply abhe taklee show us any work which you did for tje poor people of flo0d........you always blaming other .....not working ........

S. Ali Raza | 13 years ago | Reply This will bring anarchy to the country. Hopefully, these landlords will kill each other over the upcoming disputes and revenge wishes.

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