PML-N MNA quits over earthquake response
PkMAP chief calls for joint in-camera session of parliament on security issues
PHOTO: REUTERS
ISLAMABAD:
A ruling party lawmaker from the tribal regions resigned on Tuesday blaming the government for ‘failing the victims’ of a massive earthquake that devastated northern Pakistan last month.
Speaking on the floor of the National Assembly, the PML-N lawmaker from Bajaur Agency, Shahabuddin Khan, said the government has failed to compensate tens of thousands of earthquake survivors.
He alleged corruption and nepotism in distribution of relief goods. Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Governor Sardar Mehtab Abbasi has misled the prime minister on relief activities, he said. “It is pointless to sit in the assembly if public representatives are not heard.”
Khan informed fellow lawmakers in the assembly that he has handed his resignation to PML-N’s provincial leader Amir Muqam.Opposition leader Khursheed Shah said the government should declare an emergency in the earthquake-hit areas and immediately provide relief to the survivors.
The victims – particularly those in Chitral, Swat, Dir, Shangla, Swat and Bajaur – are enduring great difficulties as the weather has turned colder, he said. “I request the prime minister and the K-P chief minister to set up camp in Swat and spend two or three days to resolve the people’s problems.”
Earlier Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) chief Mehmood Khan Achakzai demanded the government ensure transparency in internal and foreign matters of Pakistan. “All internal and foreign policies should be formulated after they are discussed in parliament,” he said while speaking in the National Assembly.
He also demanded that a joint, in-camera sitting of parliament be convened to discuss important security issues. “The chief of army staff [General Raheel Sharif] is visiting the United States [from November 15 to 20] and we are not aware of it,” he said, adding that being a citizen of the country, he demanded in-depth debates in parliament on security issues.
Achakzai said Pakistan was faced with different kinds of threats; therefore, important security issues such as presence of the extremist militant group Islamic State – also known by its Arabic acronym Da’ish – should be raised on the floor of the house. “If Pakistan is dear to anybody, then joint sittings of parliament should be convened to discuss matters pertaining to our foreign policy.” He said no development could be conceived in Pakistan unless there was peace in the neighbouring countries.
The PkMAP chief also complained that there was no minister or adviser present in the house, because “they do not take the proceedings seriously”. “The speaker and the deputy speaker should come to the assembly on time and suspend the proceedings if ministers are not present,” he urged NA Deputy Speaker Murtaza Javed Abbasi.
Speaking on a point of order, MNA Syed Kazim Shah demanded the second phase of the local government election in Sindh be held under army’s supervision. He claimed that the first phase was rigged. He also demanded the case of 11 political workers killed during the first phase in Khairpur be transferred to military courts.
MNA Nafeesa Shah said a judicial inquiry into the Khairpur incident had been ordered by the Sindh government. “We should wait for the findings of the inquiry.” Condemning the Khairpur killings, MNA Fehmida Mirza said the facts of the incident should be made public.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 11th, 2015.
A ruling party lawmaker from the tribal regions resigned on Tuesday blaming the government for ‘failing the victims’ of a massive earthquake that devastated northern Pakistan last month.
Speaking on the floor of the National Assembly, the PML-N lawmaker from Bajaur Agency, Shahabuddin Khan, said the government has failed to compensate tens of thousands of earthquake survivors.
He alleged corruption and nepotism in distribution of relief goods. Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Governor Sardar Mehtab Abbasi has misled the prime minister on relief activities, he said. “It is pointless to sit in the assembly if public representatives are not heard.”
Khan informed fellow lawmakers in the assembly that he has handed his resignation to PML-N’s provincial leader Amir Muqam.Opposition leader Khursheed Shah said the government should declare an emergency in the earthquake-hit areas and immediately provide relief to the survivors.
The victims – particularly those in Chitral, Swat, Dir, Shangla, Swat and Bajaur – are enduring great difficulties as the weather has turned colder, he said. “I request the prime minister and the K-P chief minister to set up camp in Swat and spend two or three days to resolve the people’s problems.”
Earlier Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) chief Mehmood Khan Achakzai demanded the government ensure transparency in internal and foreign matters of Pakistan. “All internal and foreign policies should be formulated after they are discussed in parliament,” he said while speaking in the National Assembly.
He also demanded that a joint, in-camera sitting of parliament be convened to discuss important security issues. “The chief of army staff [General Raheel Sharif] is visiting the United States [from November 15 to 20] and we are not aware of it,” he said, adding that being a citizen of the country, he demanded in-depth debates in parliament on security issues.
Achakzai said Pakistan was faced with different kinds of threats; therefore, important security issues such as presence of the extremist militant group Islamic State – also known by its Arabic acronym Da’ish – should be raised on the floor of the house. “If Pakistan is dear to anybody, then joint sittings of parliament should be convened to discuss matters pertaining to our foreign policy.” He said no development could be conceived in Pakistan unless there was peace in the neighbouring countries.
The PkMAP chief also complained that there was no minister or adviser present in the house, because “they do not take the proceedings seriously”. “The speaker and the deputy speaker should come to the assembly on time and suspend the proceedings if ministers are not present,” he urged NA Deputy Speaker Murtaza Javed Abbasi.
Speaking on a point of order, MNA Syed Kazim Shah demanded the second phase of the local government election in Sindh be held under army’s supervision. He claimed that the first phase was rigged. He also demanded the case of 11 political workers killed during the first phase in Khairpur be transferred to military courts.
MNA Nafeesa Shah said a judicial inquiry into the Khairpur incident had been ordered by the Sindh government. “We should wait for the findings of the inquiry.” Condemning the Khairpur killings, MNA Fehmida Mirza said the facts of the incident should be made public.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 11th, 2015.