The session of NWFP Assembly was on Monday adjourned for a week to mourn the human loss in the earthquake and enable assembly members to participate in the relief activities and monitor rescue operations in their respective constituencies in the province.
On the occasion, the assembly members also donated one-month salary for the relief of the victims. The session of the provincial assembly was summoned by the NWFP Governor for completion of the constitutional required period, however it was adjourned with the consensus in the house. Speaker Bakht Jehan Khan was in the chair.
Earlier, soon after the recitation of the Holy Qur'aan, Anwar Kamal Marwat of the PML-N while speaking on a point of order brought to notice the US ambassador's announcement of a meagre amount of $0.1 million for the quake victims and termed the announcement a joke with the country. He called for returning the amount back to him.
Besides, the delay in launching of the rescue operations in some far-flung areas and lack of relief goods in the worst hit areas like Mansehra, Abbottabad, Batagram, Kohistan and Shangla also brought a little criticism.
Members hailing from the affected areas particularly Sardar Mumtaz Khan Abbasi (PML-N), Hamid Iqbal (PPP-Parliamentarian), Pir Mohammad Khan MMA and Qalandar Khan Lodhi (PML-Q) spoke about the devastated situation after the quake.
Hamid Iqbal, PPP-Parliamentarian MPA from Shangla said that the whole country knew the estimate losses of the Saturday earthquake. He said that both national and provincial resources were insufficient to meet the losses. "Whole villages have been wiped out and people are living under open sky," he told the house.
About casualties in his district, he said according to a rough estimate 350 people had been died while more than 600 were injured. "The real toll would be many fold high and the total number of the affected people would be about 0.3 million in the district," he reiterated.
He added that hundreds of houses had been collapsed and now there is the need to rescue the people trapped under the rubbles of buildings.
He called for the provision of tents, food and medicines for the affected people, saying that despite the passage of three days they still were waiting for the arrival of relief goods.
Bashir Ahmad Bilour of ANP said that the natural calamity had brought disaster in Balakot, Mansehra and Shangla. "Although we have made nuclear bomb but could not prepare a machine to bring the people out of the debris of the buildings," he said.
He also criticised the statement of the Corps Commander Peshawar Lieutenant General Safdar Hussain, who had made an effort to play down number of casualties in the province.
He urged upon the government to raise the matter with the United Nations and the European Union saying that the announced fund of Rs 250 million for the rehabilitation of the quake victims of the NWFP was insufficient. He said that the rehabilitation required more than Rs 2 billion.
The ANP leader said that army was the custodian of the country and should be used for the rescue activities.
Pir Mohammad Khan, another MPA from Shangla said that the government should have funds to meet any emergency situation and natural disasters. He said that the victims were required tents to protect them from rains, food and medicines for their survival.
He suggested monitoring over the relief activities, as during the last floods 1200 blankets were reportedly stolen.
Provincial Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs, Malik Zafar Azam Khan, sharing his personal observation said that there was a major human loss in the areas of Garhi Habibullah, Jabori and Balakot. "The children trapped inside their schools were crying for help but no one was there for their rescue," he said.
He called for the arrangement of mobile x-ray machines and operation-theater to provide medical facilities to the victims.
Speaking on behalf of the provincial government, Senior Minister Siraj-ul-Haq informed the house that 3.3 million people of the province were facing the matter of life and death and the situation would be competed through only courage and dedication.
He said that due to lack of resources, they were unable to make arrangement to meet such challenges, as many schools and hospitals of the affected areas had also been collapsed.
The Senior Minister called for the suspension of all operations going on in the name of flushing out foreigners and local supporters of the terrorists to divert attentions towards the rescue operation.
He said, he was agreed with the members for their criticism of the government, as it was the responsibility of the government.
However, he said soon after the cabinet meeting we visited the affected areas and authorised district co-ordination officers (DCOs) of the concerned districts to arrange food, medicines and tents for the affected people.
"Mobile operation-theater, ambulances and reserve force have been shifted to the affected areas," he informed adding that provincial ministers have been asked to monitor relief and rescue operations in Shangla, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Batagram and Kohistan.
He thanked the government of Japan and Germany for sending experts of the rescue operations.
The senior minister appealed to the members of the PML-Q and PPP-Sherpao to play their role in getting resources for the rehabilitation and rescue operations in the quake-affected areas in the province.
Similarly, he appealed to the world community in general and Muslim ummah in particular to provide resources to meet this emergency situation.
Speaker Bakht Jehan Khan later announced the adjournment of the house till Monday 10.00 am.
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