Opposition in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly has criticised the PTI-led coalition government for insufficient relief and rehabilitation measures for earthquake affected people and conducting of fresh survey in devastated areas and enhancement of the compensation amount.
The opposition members were of the view that survey conducted for loss assessment was not thoroughly as many earthquakes affected in hilly areas were not covered. The house Monday resumed proceedings with Speaker, Asad Qaiser in the chair opened debate on devastation of earthquake and relief activities. The adjournment motion for the debate was moved by Sardar Hussain Babak of ANP and Bakht Baidar of QWP.
Opening the debate, the parliamentary leader of ANP slammed PTI government for delaying relief and rehabilitation activities in earthquake affected areas. He said that the earthquake played havoc in Malakand and Hazara divisions in particular and others parts of the province in general but the provincial government remained passive. Terming the compensation amount of Rs 0.2 million as insufficient, saying then provincial government in 2010 announced Rs 0.6 million for the victims of flash floods.
He said the survey teams of provincial government failed in conducting the assessment surveys neutrally, rather left the actually affected people whose houses were damaged by the earthquake, adding that many people were still living in damaged houses even in extreme weather conditions and survey teams did not visited their areas. He criticised Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Pervez Khattak for not responding and visiting the affected areas when the earthquake jolted the whole province, despite the fact that whole media was showing the devastation.
Babak appreciated Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for visiting earthquake affected areas soon after it struck, adding that the Prime Minister himself monitored the relief activities and issued on spot directives for rehabilitation of the victims. He said that PTI has failed to deliver in the province during last two and half year in power and therefore the people of Sindh and Punjab have rejected in local government elections. Participating in the debate, Syed Jafar Shah, another ANP MPA said that people of different districts were carrying out protests against PTI government which was evident of the fact that KP government was not delivering.
Meanwhile, Munawar Khan of JUIF urged the speaker to invite PDMA officers in the House to attend the debate and respond to the queries of the members. The provincial minister for education, Mohammad Atif Khan said that it was not the time of point scoring adding KP and federal government were on the same page for relief and rehabilitation of the victims. He said CM Khattak visited quake affected areas several times with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to monitor the relief activities. Later, the House passed the Provincial Services Academy (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) (Amendment Bill), 2015 which was presented by Minister for law Imtiaz Shahid Qureshi. The House would continue debate on earthquake and relief activities tomorrow. Later, the Speaker, Asad Qaiser adjourned the proceedings of the house till tomorrow (Tuesday) 3:00 pm.