The opposition in the National Assembly on Tuesday reiterated its demand of assigning the rehabilitation and reconstruction task to the civilian authorities in the earthquake-stricken areas.
Speaking on two different motions moved in the National Assembly, the opposition lawmakers accused that the army personnel were treating the victims rudely and they wanted the relief operation to be under civil controls.
The government is not only facing scathing criticism over non-judicious utilisation of money from the President's Relief Fund, but the lawmakers came hard on the speaker as well over non-utilisation of Rs 15 million collected from the parliamentarians for NA Relief Fund.
Speaker Chaudhry Amir Hussain clubbed both motions - for the provision of free fertiliser and seed and immediate construction of inexpensive quake proof houses for the calamity-hit people - and allowed the opposition to unleash a scorching criticism on the government handling of the disaster.
Taking the floor, Dr Farid Ahmed Paracha from Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal said the government has failed to provide shelter to hundreds of people in cold weather. He asked the government to immediately provide shelters, gas cylinders and foodstuff to the survivors.
Speaking about funds generated by the parliamentarians for relief and reconstruction work, Abdul Mujeeb Pirzada from PPPP said the government has still not utilise nearly Rs 15 million despite the fact that the people are dying in severe cold weather.
He accused the government of not taking the Azad Jammu and Kashmir government into confidence in all the relief and reconstruction operation and distribution of money among the victims.
He asked the government to pay back their donations, adding that they would prefer to donate the money to their own political parties who can help the survivors in the best way.
The mover of both the motions, Samia Raheel Qazi, said the October 8 earthquake has badly damaged the agricultural land that would have negative impact on the economy.
She asked the government to make prompt steps for the revival of agriculture sector in quake-hit areas and provide free seeds and fertilisers to the poor farmers.
She said that the government should conduct a survey of the devastated areas and devise short-, mid- and long-term policies for revival of agriculture sector there.
She drew the attention of the House towards the World Health Organisation (WHO) warning in which it has feared of another disaster if the people do not receive timely help.
Taking part in the discussion, MMA leader Liaquat Baloch said that the entire relief and rehabilitation operation should be under the supervision of the Parliament.
He said the government has not made any serious attempt to bring all the political parties on a joint platform to thrash out a strategy to meet the post-October 8 scenario.
He also asked the government to direct the Zarai Tarraqiati Bank Limited (ZTBL) and other authorities to help the quake-stricken people for revival of agricultural sector.
Abdul Sattar Afghani came hard on the military personnel who are involved in relief and rehabilitation operations. He accused that the military personnel were misbehaving with the people who were already in distress.
He demanded of the government to bring the entire relief and reconstruction operation under the supervision of the civilian government where the president and prime minister should play their due roles.
Responding to opposition's concerns, Minister of State for Food and Agriculture Muhammad Ali Malkani informed the House that the government was already to provide free seed and fertiliser to the quake-hit people.
He said the government was actively working for the revival of nearly 28,000 acres agricultural land in NWFP and 15,000 acres land in AJK.
Minister of State for Water and Power Amir Muqam said the government has restored electricity and other communication links in the earthquake zone.
He informed the House that around Rs 14 billion have so far been distributed among the victims, while the government has succeeded in providing aid to 70 percent of the people in the devastated areas.
The government not only came under fire over mishandling the post-October 8 scenario, but the opposition benches raised serious concerns over awarding of contract worth nearly Rs 375 million without tenders for the construction of Lahore-Okara bypass by the National Highway Authority (NHA).
Education Minister Javed Ashraf Qazi who replied in absence of the communication minister faced tough time when the lawmakers from the opposition benches questioned the government's credibility over awarding contracts worth millions of rupees. Ashraf Qazi contested the oppositions contention, saying the bidding was transparent as it was awarded after due process as bids were invited through an advertisement.
Khwaja Muhammad Asif from Pakistan Muslim League even chanted slogans against Javed Ashraf Qazi over what he accused the government of awarding all the contracts to a particular company.