May 11, 2006	Thursday	Rabi-us-Sani 12, 1427

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PESHAWAR, May 10: The NWFP government has demanded that Islamabad should transfer to the province $6 billion donated by the world community for rehabilitation of people and reconstruction of areas hit by the Oct 8 quake.

The provincial government has also demanded a complete audit of donations and expenditures.

Responding to a point raised by lawmakers on the sufferings of displaced people, living in tents across the province since Oct 8, NWFP Senior Minister Sirajul Haq said that the world community had donated funds for early rehabilitation of the people, but the federal government was taking all measures without consulting the provincial government.

He asked the federal government to transfer the funds to the province, so that the infrastructure could be laid in the affected areas. He underlined the need for having a complete, but transparent audit of the funds provided by the world community.

The minister said he would give a comprehensive statement on the issue in the House on Wednesday after the conclusion of the undergoing discussion on it.

Earlier, speaking on the role of federal government, Abdul Akbar Khan of the People’s Party Parliamentarians said that a single man in military uniform had grabbed all things and he was running the entire show.

He said according to the Article 142 (c) of the Constitution, only provincial assembly had the right to make any legislation about the natural disaster that hit the north-eastern districts of the province on Oct 8, 2005. He said neither the federal list nor the concurrent list had any such provision to make legislation on the issue. “It is a constitutional right of the province to do legislation on it,” he added.

But, he said, practically, a person sitting in Islamabad in the uniform was doing each and everything pertaining to the post-quake situation.

After 1974 earthquake, he said, the federal government handed over all the donations and chain of services to the provincial government. He asked that why the federal government was keen to do everything on its own. He said it all spoke about venal transactions.

He said the NWFP government had no nomination on the council set up soon after the quake. He said the federal government was gradually taking all powers into its own hand as in the past it had deprived of the NWFP of rights of legislation on local government, police act and net hydel profit. Only one man had become fountainhead of all powers which was contrary to the norms of democracy.

Syed Mazhar Qasim, an independent MPA from Kaghan Valley, said despite tall claims made by the federal and provincial governments nothing had come out of it as the people of his area were still without food, shelter, proper healthcare, business or other employment opportunities.

The federal government had declared Balakot and adjacent areas as Red Zone, but practically nothing had been done. “We don’t see anything on the ground.”