ISLAMABAD, Feb 12: Members of the People’s Party Parliamentarians (PPP) on Monday expressed concern over the government’s reply that out of about 11,000 pre-fabricated houses pledged by three countries for the earthquake-affected people, only 26 have so far been distributed.
In a written reply to a question of Maulana Abdul Akbar Chitrali of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA), Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Sher Afgan told the National Assembly that Saudi Arabia had pledged to provide 10,000, Kuwait 700 and the US 250 pre-fabricated houses.
However, the minister said so far only Saudi Arabia had provided 26 pre-fabricated houses, out of which 15 had been distributed in Balakot union council and 11 in Garlat union council.
Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan of the PPP said two winter seasons had passed since the October 2005 earthquake, but these countries had provided only 26 pre-fabricated houses. He questioned as to what steps Pakistan had taken to remind the governments of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the US about their promises.
Belum Hasnain of the PPP expressed surprise over the minister’s reply and asked him about the criteria for distribution of the 26 pre-fabricated houses.
The minister said these houses had been distributed in the areas which were the worst affected and no discrimination was carried out in this regard.
In response to Aitzaz Ahsan’s points, the minister said these countries had told the government that they had placed orders with various companies for the manufacturing of pre-fabricated houses and these would be given to Pakistan when they were ready. He said the government could not force these countries for early provision of the houses.
Rejects by-polls results: The People’s Party Parliamentarians (PPP) has released a report on alleged rigging during the February 10 by-elections on a National Assembly seat from Karachi and provincial assembly seat from Jamshoro, and demanded fresh polling in both constituencies.
The report on rigging in the by-polls was released for the media by PPP information secretary Sherry Rehman here on Monday.
In its report, the PPP alleged that a complete list of voters was not provided to the party candidate, Nafees Siddiqui, until the polling day by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) despite several letters and reminders.
It alleges that the MQM candidate canvassed openly with state funds and the city government machinery. Official vehicles of Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB), Karachi Development Authority (KDA), Community Board and Karachi Municipal Corporation (KMC) were deployed by the MQM all over the city to remove PPP flags, banners and posters.
It says President Gen Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz flew to Karachi to campaign for the MQM candidate and inaugurated some projects. Sindh Chief Minister Arbab Ghulam Rahim did exactly the same for the PML-Q candidate in PS-71 Jamshoro.
On polling day, the said: “multiple ballots were stamped in the presence of fake/substituted presiding officers in 55 polling stations in Karachi. Whenever they were asked for identity papers, as in the case of Aisha Bhawany School or Saifiya School polling stations, the exchange turned violent and resulted in the PPP polling agents being either injured or expelled from the station premises.
The report further alleges that in almost all areas in Karachi, the MQM’s armed gangs had taken over the polling booths by 1pm, making it impossible for PPP polling agents to witness, let alone verify, the ballot count at close of polling.
“The ECP remained remote from all complaints and appeals for help from Karachi and Kotri. In all circumstances, the CEC was notified by fax and telephone in detail about the nature of the violence and manipulation taking place. After assuring senior party officials of their impartiality in the morning, they stopped answering complaints after 11am and switched off their telephones.”
Meanwhile, in a statement here on Monday, the media coordinator of PPP’s Central Election Monitoring Committee, Nazir Dhoki, rejected the results of by-elections and demanded re- election in both the constituencies.
Mr Dhoki said at several polling stations, the PPP workers including women, were tortured and the MQM activists openly brandished weapons and fired shots to intimidate PPP voters throughout the constituency.