Joint opposition is most likely to reject the government's viewpoint on its terms of reference for participation in the proposed parliamentary committee on earthquake.
"The draft comments on the issue prepared by Prime Minister Secretariat does not give categorical assurance on bringing the Earthquake Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Authority (ERRA) under a civilian head," a source privy to the document revealed to Business Recorder here on Wednesday.
Likewise, there was also no clear-cut indication of deletion of a clause that immunised the ERRA from being challenged at any forum, the source claimed.
However, he added that the government had no objection to passing a unanimous resolution in the Parliament on the setting up of the ERRA and the Federal Relief Commission.
Similarly, it was conveyed to the opposition that the reports on activities of the authority and the commission as well as the details of the President's Relief Fund could be placed on the floor of Parliament.
"The opposition's proposal that the members in the proposed committee should be equal in number from the treasury and the opposition has also been accepted."
When approached, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate Mian Raza Rabbani confirmed to Business Recorder that he had received the draft and had informed the opposition leaders about it.
Rabbani, who is Deputy Secretary General of Pakistan Peoples' Party Parliamentarians, declined to divulge details of the document, saying he was not in a position to say anything on the nature of 'comments' received from the government.
"All opposition leaders plan to meet within two to three days to discuss the draft and collectively decide about our participation in the committee," he maintained.
"Since the opposition collectively drafted the terms of reference, therefore, I have no mandate to unilaterally react on it."
It is pertinent that his tone and body language suggested the opposition might opt for staying away from the proposed committee.
Rabbani's response was in the negative when asked was it because of the possible formation of the committee, the opposition members were not raising post-earthquake matters on the floor of the National Assembly.
"This has nothing to do with the opposition's strategy in the House. The opposition will raise issues pertaining to rehabilitation and reconstruction in the coming days," he said.
It is worth mentioning that in response to the Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz's initiative, the combined opposition had finalised terms of reference to become part of the proposed committee overseeing rehabilitation and reconstruction-related operations.
Ever since the making of the ERRA and FRC, bypassing the Parliament, the opposition parties have been calling for bringing them under the Parliament and making civilians their head.
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