Treasury and opposition members in the National Assembly on Monday demonstrated unity in expressing their sympathies with those affected by Saturday’s earthquake and vowing to work together in the relief activities. In the business advisory committee’s meeting before the start of the session, the treasury and opposition members had decided that the National Assembly would not take up normal business on the agenda and they would only express solidarity with the nation in this critical time.
Acting parliamentary leader of the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz), Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, said it was time to work with sincerity and not for political point scoring. He said Pakistan was facing a war-like situation. “There is no government and no opposition today, and we all will work together,” he said. He said the disaster could not be faced in a traditional manner. He announced that the opposition had decided to postpone its plan to observe a ‘Black Day’ on Oct 12. He said the opposition had extended its cooperation to the government, which should respond to it positively and take immediate steps for the rehabilitation of displaced people.
He asked why troops had so far not landed in the areas where roads were closed due to landslides. He asked the government to make immediate arrangements to drop food in the affected areas. He stressed the need for using helicopters to drop troops in the affected areas. He asked the president and the prime minister to focus their energies on relief efforts instead of visiting the areas in helicopters only for photo sessions. The Opposition Leader in the assembly, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, asked the government to send relief goods to the devastated areas under the supervision of rangers and army to ensure their supply to deserving people. He said there were reports that the goods earlier sent to some areas were snatched before reaching their destination. He asked the world community to extend full support to Pakistan. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Dr Sher Afgan stressed the need for unity to meet the situation. Parliamentary leader of the People’s Party Parliamentarians, Makhdoom Amin Fahim, said it was time for all to set aside their party affiliations. He said thousands of people were waiting for assistance.
Re: Pakistan united - Govt, opposition demonstrate solidarity
The PPP, PML-N & MMA have all donated money and set up relief camps for the victims of the quakes..other parties including the MQM and ANP have also joined in...
Re: Pakistan united - Govt, opposition demonstrate solidarity
Great to see the MMA behaving responsibly and with patriotism.
No politics on quake and victims, says PM
“No politics about earthquake and its victims as it is not the time for such things,” said Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz quickly when his attention was drawn to a statement of MMA leader Qazi Hussian Ahmad that his party is prepared to sit with the government any where, at a place of the choice of government to talk about the catastrophic earthquake of last Saturday but not in the National Security Council (NSC). “We can look into the possibility of sitting with Qazi Sahib in some other shape to put our heads together for mitigating the miseries of the devastating quake,” he added. The Prime Minister was talking to this correspondent in the PM Secretariat Tuesday. Chief Relief Commissioner Major General Farooq Ahmad Khan and Major General Shaukat Sultan were also present nearby. The Prime Minister referred to his contacts with Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman leader of the opposition in the National Assembly and said that the Maulana was extremely cooperative in his interaction with him in last two days. The Maulana has assured that the government and the opposition would work hand-in-hand to alleviate the miseries of people. The government would keep on taking the opposition in confidence about the efforts for rehabilitation of the victims, he added. He was cautious and whenever he mentioned the opposition, he did so with due deference. He pointed out that chief minister NWFP Akram Khan Durrani was sitting with the federal government Tuesday. He said that the NSC would have a single-item agenda for its sitting on Wednesday (today).
The Prime Minister said that Pakistan has welcomed Indian assistance for the quake victims but we do not need any assistance from the Indian troops as Pakistan has the best personnel capable of effectively dealing with the situation. To a query he said that out of two divisions and several brigades being dispatched to affected areas, one would have it headquarters in Mansehar while the other will be stationed in Azad Kashmir. He declared that Pakistan’s armed forces are fully trained and equipped with the skill to meet any eventuality and the civil administration is working in close cooperation with them. About the rumour circulating that number of those perished in the earthquake could be more than two hundred thousand, Shaukat Aziz parried the question saying that media is free in Pakistan and the government gives only authentic numbers. However he agreed that the number given by the government was not final and the casualties were increasing with every passing minute. He said that the government would give only credible figures. The Prime Minister was satisfied with the response of international community as well the fellow countrymen.