Opposition wants ERRA made answerable to Parliament

Combined opposition on Monday called for making the Earthquake Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Authority (ERRA) answerable to the Parliament.
The opposition parties made this demand in a draft of the terms of reference for setting up the proposed parliamentary committee on earthquake, which they formally sent to the Prime Minister Secretariat on Monday.
"We will wait for two-three days for a reaction from Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz to chalk out our future strategy," said Hafiz Hussain Ahmed of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal while talking to Business Recorder.
Last week, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz formed a parliamentary committee with nine members each from the ruling coalition and the opposition. Moments before its meeting at the Prime Minister Chamber in the Parliament House, Maulana Samiul Haq was also invited to its maiden meeting. Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz will head it.
The opposition leaders had clarified that their participation was not as the committee's members, but as opposition leaders and that they would like to be part of it if their terms of reference are accommodated.
The terms of reference include, taking formal approval of the committee from both Houses of the Parliament and making the ERRA answerable to the Parliament and not to any individual.
In this context, the opposition parties have demanded deletion of the clause that immunises ERRA from being challenged at any forum.
"We believe that the authority in its present contours create serious doubts about its transparent functioning," Hafiz Hussain maintained.
Combined opposition has also opposed what it called unilateral measures regarding rehabilitation of the quake victims.
ERRA will have to present its reports to the Parliament and be answerable to it, the opposition has demanded.
The terms of reference have been thrashed out after a series of contacts among the opposition leaders and a detailed meeting at the Parliament House on last Friday.
To make the authority, headed by a serving general, answerable to the Parliament looked almost impossible, sources added.
To a question, Hafiz Hussain said that in his personal view combined opposition would not agree on anything less than its two terms ie deletion of the clause and making ERRA answerable to the Parliament.
MMA leader made it clear that there would be no split decision, opposition parties would collective decide about whether or not to become part of the proposed committee in the light of the government response on its terms of reference.