Ex-President Farooq Leghari, ex-premiers Zafarullah Khan Jamali and Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, chairman of the Kashmir Committee Hamid Nasir Chattha are among a number of important members who are yet to speak. On Friday, it appeared as if the debate would be wrapped up today by Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz himself.
He had come to the House, had a mike fixed on his desk and he even flashed his request to a journalist in the press gallery to stay on to hear him. Thanks to Speaker Amir Hussain's handling of the proceedings it did not happen, leaving the PM with his second best option-- press conference in his chamber.
State Minister Zahid Hamid was on his feet at once after the House resumed the sitting Friday morning to offer the official response to various objections and queries the members had raised in the preceding couple of days.
Conceding Pakistan is not directly linked with international seismic network he informed the House that membership of the world system is being contemplated, but the country's own five meteorological centres are fully operative.
He also conceded Imran Khan's accusation that over 50,000 tents are stuck up in China because of Pakistan's inability to bring these in but corrected the figure is about 2800 which, he said, are now being lifted. Giving the epic dimensions of the disaster, the minister asked the opposition to offer constructive criticism.
The next two speakers, Sahibzada Fazal Karim and Syed Zafar Ali Shah were not essentially disaster-focused: while Sahibzada objected to PTV MD's conduct at the recent meeting of the House committee on information the member from Sindh argued that the local government elections have weakened the parliament. Zafar questioned the viability of relief operation and demanded that a civilian should head it.
Nawab Mirza advocated "first service and then criticism". Bukhtiar Mani theorised that a sinful society invites natural calamities "but that does not mean that those who lay buried under the rubble were not good people. In fact, they have been punished for the sins of big people".
His four suggestions were: District management be restored at the earliest; Civilians be given greater role in relief and rehabilitation; affectees be given funds to rebuild their homes as they do not want to leave their places; and a high-level monitoring committee including foreign donors be set up.
However, a very lucid account of the devastation and what should be done now was offered by member from Mansehra, Sardar Shahjahan Yousuf. "Forty thousand people of my constituency have perished, and those alive are living under the blue sky...over 80,000 are even now accessible only by helicopter".
But that blighted land has yet not been declared calamity-hit area for want of a single notification by the government. Where the government has not reached the volunteers have arrived.
Yet the work for rehabilitation is enormous. His suggestions included waiving all loans and grant of low-interest credits to the affectees; setting up tax-free industrial zone in Mansehra; reconstruction of government offices, schools and hospitals but under upgraded safety standards and inquiry into the fact that almost all government-handled construction structures collapsed.
PML-N's Rana Mehmudul Hassan demanded hosting of an international seismic conference to enhance public awareness on earthquake occurrences and how to deal with their aftermath.
When the House met there was no quorum but over some time more members came but the House did not warm up to an enthusiastic debate. While the treasury members kept themselves engaged in group discussions--one such group was joined by Zafarullah Khan Jamali, Hamid Nasir Chattha and Riaz Pirzada, the so-called architect of Forward Block in the ruling coalition, the opposition members laid back in their seats, till Tehmina Daultana got the mike.
The government expects the opposition to be positive, she said, asking why doesn't the government do the same by bringing incarcerated Makhdoom Javed Hashmi to the House. What she said was not a point of order, ruled the Speaker but Makhdoom Amin Faheem differed with him. He too demanded production of Hashmi in the House.
Then, Jamaat-i-Islami member Dr Attaur Rehman got up to endorse Tehmina's demand and asked the Speaker to issue production order of Hashmi.
Amir Hussain declared that all these assertions not constitute points of order and "I have already given my ruling", which, given almost a year back was that Javed Hashmi was punished after due process of law.
The Speaker now got the riposte from leader of opposition Maulana Fazlur Rehman, endorsing Tehmina Daultana's demand. "The co-operation should be bilateral, it demands that Javed Hashmi should be produced in the House." He wondered how come all these days the opposition was offering co-operation but the government has not bothered to brief the opposition on various aspects of relief operation. He also took exception to what he termed one-sided use of media "as if only government is in the field".
As for the foreign assistance he said, "it is welcomed but Pakistan has its own army and foreign troops are not needed. Those who have already arrived should be sent back."
Sher Afgan responded by asserting that the government commands majority in the parliament and by virtue of that fact it has the right to formulate policies and strategies. He invited the opposition to make use of its right to move adjournment motions and file questions if it finds itself at variance with the government position. What about the opposition's adjournment motion on Nato troops, asked Fazlur Rehman.
Amir Hussain came to Sher Afgan's rescue: "Since all rules of procedure have been suspended for debate on the national disaster the Nato troops issue cannot be discussed today."
The story of today's proceedings won't complete without talking about Naveed Qamar's observations which were largely of technical nature but quite cogent, and might help the government in giving a fresh orientation to its relief and rehabilitation programme. The international response to Pakistan's appeals is pathetic, as the foreign assistance commitments do not amount to more than 10 percent of what was asked.
The reason for that has to be looked into "our internal and external reservations," he said and added that in responding to India's offer of helicopters "selectivism was conveyed...You have to change your mindset". He warned that any reallocation of funds in the federal budget would not be possible without the consent of the parliament. The House will now meet on Monday.