PESHAWAR, Oct 28: Opposition members of the NWFP Assembly on Friday appealed to the provincial government to declare all the earthquake-hit districts as calamity-stricken zones criticized it for not having done it the same even three weeks after the disaster.

They expressed shock over the “negligence and ineptness of the government”, which they said had failed to issue even a notification in the aftermath of the Oct 8 quake. They advised the government to act immediately and issue a notification on the matter. “The government should consult with the MPAs concerned on its relief measures in the affected zone,” the opposition members said.

Speaking on a point of order, opposition leader and a lawmaker from the quake-hit Mansehra district, Shahzada Gistasip Khan, said he had informed the house on Oct 26 that the NWFP administration was not working like a government. Mr Khan said it was the provincial government’s prime duty to issue a notification, and not concern itself with merely opening a relief account in the bank. He assailed the NWFP government for its poor response to the quake tragedy and for holding a belated cabinet meeting in Abbottabad.

Mr Khan said the chief minister had convened a meeting of the elected local body representatives on Oct 26, even though such a meeting should have been called much sooner.

Continuing debate on the earthquake’s aftermath, Abdul Akbar Khan of the People’s Party Parliamentarians lamented that all the three main areas — relief work, rehabilitation of the people and reconstruction of devastated government buildings, villages and towns — were being manned and controlled by soldiers. Yet, he said, Chief Minister Akram Durrani claimed in a TV interview that the troops were operating under his guidance.

He said if the chief minister was trying to please someone, it would cost him later when people start protests against the non-execution of various projects in the quake-hit areas. He advised the government to clear its position or otherwise it would be responsible for all wrongdoings in the future.

So far, he said, the NWFP government had paid compensation to only 800 affected people. The United Nations has contributed Rs30 billion ($500 million) in relief assistance, but Islamabad had only given Rs1 billion to the NWFP for rehabilitation of the people.

Rifat Akbar Swati, also from Mansehra, who visited quake-hit areas, praised the army, volunteers of Islami Jamiat Tulba and workers of Al-Khidmat Foundation involved in the relief operation in Mansehra, Balakot and Muzaffarabad. She said all the three institutions were a symbol of dedication and cooperation.

Farha Aqil Shah of the Awami National Party proposed that the government set up separate relief counters for women, who had lost all male family members during the quake. She also asked the government to provide them refuge in the Hyatabad shelter home.

Sardar Mumtaz Khan of the Pakistan Muslim League-N said not a single civilian or military relief team had contacted the affected people of his area. He said the affected people rented out a jeep for Rs2,500 just to travel to an army relief camp, where they were doled out some quilts and packs of biscuits. He said this sort of activity could cause a law and order problem in the affected areas.

PAPER LEAK: The house also initiated a debate on the adjournment motion tabled by Nighat Orakzai on Friday against the paper-leak scandal of the Education Testing and Evaluation Agency.

Ms Nighat said that apart from a driver and chowkidar, all those involved in the scandal had been exonerated by the relevant agencies. She alleged that the ETEA had become a launching pad for the pampered sons and daughters of the elite class.

She said a fresh inquiry should be initiated into the scandal and all those involved in it must be exposed. She said the paper had been sold out for Rs7.5 million, while the influential families had got their pampered boys released within a few days. “Why is the government not condoning this shameful act?” she asked.

A visibly angry Education Minister Fazle Ali informed the house that unfortunately the son of the mover (Ms Nighat) had not passed the test. He alleged that Ms Nighat had also contacted the ETEA director, Syed Iqbal Shah, for the purpose. He defended the ETEA body’s role in the scandal and spoke at length on its feats.

FILM SCREENING: Earlier, Deputy Speaker Ikramullah Shahid and Mohammad Ibrahim Qasmi tabled a joint resolution, demanding the screening of The Message, an English film highlighting the role of the companions of the Prophet (PBUH). The movers criticised a private TV channel for screening its Urdu version. The house adopted the resolution with a majority vote.

Later, the speaker adjourned the session till Monday.