Earthquake: PPP, PTI stage walkout in protest against government's inaction
Leader of the opposition says the Prime Minister did not offer any official statement about the calamity.
PPP and PTI representatives walked out to register their protest against what they called the insensitiveness of the government. PHOTO: APP/FILE
ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) representatives staged a walked out in the National Assembly after a resolution was passed expressing sorrow over lives lost in the Balochistan earthquake on Wednesday.
Moved by Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Shazia Marri, the resolution sympathised with the families of the deceased and called on the government to expedite the rescue and relief operations in the affected areas.
PPP and PTI representatives staged a walk out to register their protest over what they said was the "insensitivity" of the government.
Even though railways minister Khawaja Saad Rafiq and parliamentary affairs minister Sheikh Aftab Ahmed put forth their defense of the government, the opposition remained skeptical.
"The government did not offer any official statement about the calamity. Even Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif did not say anything about it in the UN to get attention of the international community towards this massive disaster," said leader of the opposition in the National Assembly, Syed Khursheed Shah.
Shah also claimed that the ministers were more willing to talk outside the Parliament House and did not take the House into confidence.
Mentioning the Balochistan earthquake, Shah said that the government's attitude made it seem as if the calamity-hit province was not a part of Pakistan.
“Baloch are already feeling alienated and such attitude of the government is bound to make matters worse,” he added.
PTI leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi seconded opposition leader’s concerns and remarked that Prime Minister should have returned to the country after the earthquake hit the province.
"The government seems to be insensitive as no proper help is being given to the affected," he said.
The railways minister said that the opposition should point out the negligence of government instead of just criticising.
People in Sindh are also suffering and people affected from flood are still looking for help, he added hitting at the PPP.
Sheikh Aftab also countered the claims made against the government and said that it was well aware of the calamity and would present a detailed report on Thursday.
He said that Prime Minister Sharif had instructed federal minister Abdul Qadir Baloch to assist the provincial government and to go into the affected areas of Balochistan.
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) representatives staged a walked out in the National Assembly after a resolution was passed expressing sorrow over lives lost in the Balochistan earthquake on Wednesday.
Moved by Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Shazia Marri, the resolution sympathised with the families of the deceased and called on the government to expedite the rescue and relief operations in the affected areas.
PPP and PTI representatives staged a walk out to register their protest over what they said was the "insensitivity" of the government.
Even though railways minister Khawaja Saad Rafiq and parliamentary affairs minister Sheikh Aftab Ahmed put forth their defense of the government, the opposition remained skeptical.
"The government did not offer any official statement about the calamity. Even Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif did not say anything about it in the UN to get attention of the international community towards this massive disaster," said leader of the opposition in the National Assembly, Syed Khursheed Shah.
Shah also claimed that the ministers were more willing to talk outside the Parliament House and did not take the House into confidence.
Mentioning the Balochistan earthquake, Shah said that the government's attitude made it seem as if the calamity-hit province was not a part of Pakistan.
“Baloch are already feeling alienated and such attitude of the government is bound to make matters worse,” he added.
PTI leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi seconded opposition leader’s concerns and remarked that Prime Minister should have returned to the country after the earthquake hit the province.
"The government seems to be insensitive as no proper help is being given to the affected," he said.
The railways minister said that the opposition should point out the negligence of government instead of just criticising.
People in Sindh are also suffering and people affected from flood are still looking for help, he added hitting at the PPP.
Sheikh Aftab also countered the claims made against the government and said that it was well aware of the calamity and would present a detailed report on Thursday.
He said that Prime Minister Sharif had instructed federal minister Abdul Qadir Baloch to assist the provincial government and to go into the affected areas of Balochistan.