PPP and PTI representatives walked out to register their protest against what they called the insensitiveness of the government. PHOTO: APP/FILE
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.
COMMENTS (8)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
@ unbelievable. Politics is a strategy to counter your rivals and IK will trap each one of them through his words. Dont worry
@unbelievable: What does that have anything to do with the earthquake? You need to get it in your head that many groups have been using taliban's name for years to carry out attacks! I'm against Taliban but IK's strategy is the only way for PEACE. He doesn't want bloodshed on both sides. If you so badly want them killed, go and kill them. Watch the next day they'll bomb a hundred more people and that blood will be on your hands!
@unbelievable: Damn you have no sense the topic says something else and you just have one thing in your mind how to blame IK for everything..
and pls blame him for your creation to
mr unbelievable the group the claimed responsibility of the attack on church was Jandullah. people like you need to do some research first http://abna.ir/data.asp?lang=3&Id=465754
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 Baluchistan earthquake on Wednesday.
Unbelievable, PPP claiming insensitivity on part of PML (N) government. Let's start with what happened to million of dollars which were given for flood victims of Pakistan in PPP tenure but never reached to them and many of those people are still languishing out there. Where is that money? There is no need of any resolution on that as what is needed is a formal inquiry so that money from London and Paris can be brought back to benefit the victims.
PTI has its hands full in KP and it better learn to do what people have given them a mandate for and rather than getting in mudslinging should try to improve their dismal performance there.
For earthquake victims, yes government should do more and any money collected must be spent transparently for their benefit.
This is correct but PMLN leadership is 'at a loss for words' for reasons we all know.
I wonder whether the Christians thought IK was "sensitive" when he promoted offices for the Taliban after they bombed their Church? IK has been a disappointment - classic politician who uses tragedy to promote his agenda and overall lacks depth/substance - real shame.
Quite frankly the PM shouldve returned to the country on Sunday after the Peshawer blast. The lack of a Balochistan cabinet is now inexcusable. KP Govt can be faulted for some delay but fact is that they were all back in place within 3 hours of the blast. Even Balochistans disaster management authority had no head until after the earthquake. And where did Senior Minister and defacto CM Sanaullah Zehri disappear off to.