The government is to utilise foreign donations to get the law enforcing agency (LEA) officials insured and provide financial support to their families and secure jobs for their dependent children, sources told Business Recorder. The decision was taken in the Cabinet meeting on May 9, 2009, especially convened to discuss the Swat situation and rehabilitation of the affectees.
"Performance of Erra and NDMA was considered unsatisfactory by some of members regarding relief and rehabilitation efforts in the past," sources said. The Cabinet directed the Ministry of Law and Justice to examine the legal position of charges of high treason against those who publicly defy the constitution and declare it unacceptable. Sources said that the Cabinet also decided to use Benazir Income Support Program (BISP) funds for rehabilitation of the affectees.
Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani highlighted the imperative of reviving the credibility of the government among its people as well as the world at large so as to lend unwavering support to the Army in pursuing the action to its logical end. The Prime Minister also promised to visit the DPs camps, a promise that took him just under two weeks to fulfil.
The Prime Minister told the Cabinet that an amount of Rs 500 million had been released prior to the military action. This amount of relief assistance has since been increased to Rs 1.00 billion in view of the magnitude of the problem. However, the government's resources would certainly not be sufficient to provide immediate relief to the DPs and ensure their subsequent rehabilitation.
During open debate that followed, it was noted that the Prime Minister's speech, declaring war on terrorism, had been well received and was regarded as sending a strong message of hope both internally and externally. However, the sufferings of the DPs had touched the hearts of people. It was, therefore, exigent that the issue be addressed in a wholesome manner. It was also emphasised that an effective media campaign be launched with the active participation of private channels to muster public support for Army action against terrorists. The desirability of defining parameters of Army action along with time-lines was also underscored.
FOLLOWING OBSERVATIONS AND SUGGESTIONS WERE PLACED BEFORE THE CABINET:
1. Prime Minister's Special Fund for victims of terrorism launched. Transparency in its operation must be ensured through detailed mechanism. All Ministers/Ministers of State/Advisers/Special Assistants to Prime Minister agreed to donate one month's salary to the fund. Most of the participants also announced individual donations. The donations on behalf of Ministries/Divisions be announced separately.
2. BISP also should contribute to the rehabilitation of DPs.
3. Funds meant for refugees and lying idle with Safron be considered for diversion to be used for rehabilitation of DPs.
4. The donations sourced from home and abroad should be used transparently for immediate relief and rehabilitation of DPs.
5. Performance of Erra and NDMA was considered unsatisfactory by some of the members regarding relief and rehabilitation efforts in the past.
6. To mobilise funds for the DPs, parliamentarians from political parties should visit expatriates abroad at their personal expense. It was also suggested that UN agencies be approached for donation of funds to help DPs.
7. Foreign donations may also be utilised to get LEA officials insured, provide financial support to their families and secure jobs for their dependent children.
8. A website be launched, if feasible, to demonstrate that funds for DPs are spent transparently.
9. In order that foreign countries including media and overseas Pakistanis are kept posted of developments, Ministry of Foreign Affairs should hold regular briefings both locally and by missions abroad.
10. In order to express solidarity with DPs, Prime Minister, Ministers and Parliamentarians should urgently visit camps.
11. Delegations of political parties and civil society should be encouraged to visit DPs camps to demonstrate solidarity and provide support.
12. It was advisable to accommodate DPs at safe locations nearer their homes. Their scattered movement across the country and concentration in the outskirts of big cities could aggravate their problems besides creating social, political and economic tensions in those localities.
13. Arrangements be made for prompt registration and enumeration of DPs.
14. Ministry of Health should set up emergency medical service teams for IDP camps.
15. Capital Development Authority (CDA) and Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) should immediately undertake a survey of IDPs who have arrived in Islamabad.
16. Prime Minister to engage media for positive coverage of this was for survival of Pakistan.
17. Task force, led by Minister for Information and Broadcasting, be set up to monitor media campaign and to develop motivational themes/messages. A campaign in media be launched to project human sufferings caused by terrorists.
18. A comprehensive media campaign be developed and implemented to channelise public support for military action against terrorists. Consensus of views in the matter was emphasised so that the world gets a clear message and wholehearted moral support for Army action is generated.
19. Some elements in private media distorted the facts to link terrorist activities with drone attacks. The perception should be corrected.
20. Terrorists, apprehended by LEAs, be produced before the media to expose their motives and networks.
21. The military action should be projected as logical and calculated reaction to the nefarious activities of terrorists.
22. Peace rallies be organised against terrorism to be participated jointly by all political parties and civil society. Ministers should contact identified political leadership to sustain support and unity.
23. Minister for Religious Affairs will interact with ulema and mashaikh to develop and publicise the opinion of religious scholars against terrorists.
24. All political parties be requested to call meetings of their central executive committees (CECs) and federal councils to deliberate in the matter and pass resolutions for national unity and solidarity.
25. The Ministry of Law and Justice should examine the legal position of charges of high treason against those who publicly defy the Constitution and declare it unacceptable.
26. A Cabinet committee was proposed to handle action against terrorism in an institutionalised manner and on regular basis.
27. The military should take the action to its logical conclusion so that it wins public confidence in its intention and capacity to fight terrorism.
28. It was suggested that parameters of military action should be defined and time-lines must be specified for each activity.
29. The role of intelligence agencies in targeting the leadership of terrorists was emphasised.
30. Provincial governments should be requested to provide full support to the Army in its action against terrorism.
31. Political dialogue was recommended as preferred mode of action to tackle the situation in Balochistan.
32. Developments in Karachi with reference to May 12 should be proactively managed.
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