Opposition leader in the NWFP Assembly, Shahzada Gustasip moved the resolution after relaxation of rules. Terming the worst affected people as part of their body, the legislators supported the resolution loudly when Deputy Speaker Ikramullah Shahid put it before the House on Monday.
Earlier, the House witnessed heated debate on the existing miserable condition of the earthquake victims, distribution of relief goods and rehabilitation of the survivors. Every member eulogised the services of local, national and international NGOs; donor countries and common people for their humanitarian work but deplored the lethargic attitude of the federal and provincial governments.
They regretted and said in fact the military had resources and was assisting the victims but without having any co-ordination with the elected representatives it could not bring the desired results despite the passage of 16 days.
Before starting the debate on earthquake, the House also witnessed rumpus when the Provincial Minister for Religious Affairs, Maulana Amanullah Haqani pointed out a news item wherein it was reported that the military spokesman, Shaukat Sultan was taking his breakfast at the time of the October 8 earthquake.
The minister had not yet completed his statement when the two ladies MPAs, one from the PML-Q and second from the PPP-S, Nighat Orakzai and Riffat Swati, shouted at minister telling him it was his personal affairs and that could not be discussed on the floor of the House. Since then, no one could understand the arguments and counter arguments of MPAs, as to who was speaking what amidst hooting and cross talks.
PPPP parliamentary leader Abdul Akbar observed that despite the passage of 16 days, the governments could not collect even the exact figure of casualties. He said had the government accepted the India's helicopter offer, a lot of precious lives could have been saved.
He said all the civil institutions were made redundant and the army was considering each and every one as thief. The President was reluctant to convene the joint session and All Parties Conference. He posed a question as to how rescue and rehabilitation of affected people could be done in this meagre amount. This, he said was not the job of an individual but collective efforts are needed to solve the problem.
He said every individual and institution had donated their one-month or one-day salary excluding the judiciary and army.
Zubaida Khatoon of the MMA, who along with Shagufta Naz, Sabira Shakir and Fauzia Farah, had visited the quake affected areas, complained that the President, Prime Minister, NWFP Chief Minister and other dignitaries had not yet visited the areas on ground. They were inspecting the areas through helicopters.
She said despite the passage of 16 days, people were still lying under debris. No one had tried to remove the debris of a single building in Balakot.
She posed a question as to who would be accountable to God if a single human being is died under the debris despite their repeated requests? Entire world was assisting but who is distributing relief goods and when it would be given to the deserving?
She said the government's idea of establishing tent city was neither feasible nor it has any justification. She said the survivors neither are refugees nor they could live in the coming severe cold in tents. The government should provide them only one roof and should not waste its energies on providing them tents for the temporary solution.
She also questioned the government's figures of casualties saying who had collected these figures and from whom? According to her, these figures are not correct, as the number of casualties were much more than the government's estimates. Complaining against the slow pace of relief and rehabilitation work by the army, she said the people had been spending 80 percent resources on the army but it could not recover the bodies from the debris for three days.
The activists of every NGOs could be seen doing humanitarian work but the government had no role in this connection. The government could make better co-ordination with the NGOs for the better results and suggested at least one minister should ensure his presence in the affected areas.
She said it is deplorable to note that the ministers usually return from Mansehra. She observed that the aid was lying along the roadside instead of giving it to the deserving people. The government should channelise the work and overcome the mismanagement to save relief goods for deserving.
The member of Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf (PTI), Mian Nisar Gul also deplored the government's performance saying the ministers should have established camps in the affected areas like those of the other MGOs. The entire world was donating but it was strange that the federal and provincial governments could not plan to take relief items to the victims.
Sabira Shakir demanded immediate survey and channelising the efforts to rehabilitate the victims.
Hafizullah Alizai offered his co-operation in the rehabilitation of victims in the DI Khan and Bannu vast lands.
Khalid Waqar Chamkani demanded distribution of goods through MPAs committee. Tahir Bani Amin demanded immediate relief work onset the snowfall in the quake-affected areas.