Govt-opposition talks inconclusive: Rift over relief body’s terms of reference
By Our Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD, Nov 23: The first meeting of the 19-member parliamentary committee set up to monitor relief and reconstruction effort remained inconclusive as combined opposition rejected the terms of reference (TOR) laid down by Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz.
Mr Aziz told a crowded news conference afterwards that the committee “may meet again next week” when he returns from the Commonwealth summit and the “opposition forges a consensus on TOR”.
The prime minister, who chaired the meeting, described its atmosphere as “most cordial” but opposition leaders said they had expressed reservations on the terms of reference, and would draw up their own. Their acceptance would be a precondition for their future participation in the committee meetings, they added.
The prime minister quoted the opposition members as telling him that they were attending the meeting as opposition and not as part of the committee and that they would attend the future meetings only if their reservations were addressed.
The terms of reference as laid down by the government are: i) to review and monitor steps for relief and rehabilitation, ii) to review details of expenditures on relief and reconstruction, iii) to propose appropriate steps for bringing improvement in the process of rehabilitation and iv) to review and oversight reports of independent auditors and the Auditor General of Pakistan before submission to parliament.
Mr Aziz admitted that the opposition, despite acceding to the government’s executive authority, differed on the TOR and said they will meet among themselves and get back with their reply before holding another committee meeting.
Replying to a question, the prime minister confirmed receipt of a letter from Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) president Qazi Hussain Ahmed attached with a letter from a contractor, and said he had ordered inquiry into the allegations levelled in it.
The contractor named Shakir reportedly admitted to paying graft to a high-ranking army official holding a position in ERRA.
Briefing the meeting about the steps taken for relief and rehabilitation of quake survivors and the outcome of the donors’ conference, he said that the figure of pledges had reached $6.152 billion, with $3.984 billion being soft loan and $2.2 billion grants.
Mr Aziz defended the policy of seeking soft-term loans, saying that although economic reforms initiated by the government had rid the country of IMF’s harsh regime, it was free to get loans for development within certain limits set by the fiscal responsibility law.
He justified construction of GHQ in Islamabad at an approximate cost of Rs500 billion and said the project was being carried out by sale of army’s own lands.
Asked about the F-16 purchase deal, he said: “It was held in abeyance for the time being but the process of review will continue in accordance with the country’s requirements.”
He did not agree with the opposition’s demand of giving a schedule for return of Nato’s rescue and relief team, saying he had already made it clear that Pakistan’s sovereignty and independence had not been compromised in allowing in the Nato troops, whose job was of technical nature.
They were serving the quake survivors by way of medical aid and infrastructure development.
He told a questioner that the parliamentary committee will review the audit reports by the auditor general, private auditors and discuss them before their presentation in parliament.
The opposition members registered protest against what they saw as adverse remarks made by the president at a function, and termed them a deliberate attempt at provoking the opposition to stay away from the parliamentary committee meeting, insiders said.
The parliamentary committee, with nine members each from treasury and opposition, was set up to oversee government’s steps and expenditures on reconstruction of infrastructure destroyed by the Oct 8 temblor in the NWFP and AJK.
The name of Maulana Samiul Haq, an MMA dissident, was included at the eleventh hour on what Mr Aziz said “my initiative after consulting colleagues”. The Maulana attended the meeting as an observer, as neither opposition nor the government owned him up.
While all the treasury members namely Chaudhry Shujaat, Justice (retd) Abdur Razzaq Thaheem, Dr Farooq Sattar, Munir Orakzai, Farooq Leghari, Hamid Nasir Chattha, Mir Naseer Mengal, etc., were present, Imran Khan and Rauf Mengal of opposition parties could not attend.
When questioned about the possibility of the president agreeing to address a joint sitting of parliament after creation of an atmosphere of understanding, Mr Aziz only said: “Such an opportunity may follow.”
ISLAMABAD, Nov 23: The first meeting of the 19-member parliamentary committee set up to monitor relief and reconstruction effort remained inconclusive as combined opposition rejected the terms of reference (TOR) laid down by Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz.
