The devastating earthquake in the province has acquired center stage in the political landscape of Balochistan. The politics of various political parties including Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party, Balochistan National Party, Jamaat-i-Islami, Pakistan People’s Party, National Party and Pakistan Muslim League-Q is currently focusing on the rehabilitation and aid to the earthquake victims.
The earthquake that shook Balochistan on October 29 proved devastating but it were the 10 villages of Ziarat, including Khanozai, Qilla Abdullah, Pishin and others, that faced the full brunt of the calamity. Many villages were literally wiped off the map.
But so far it is unfortunate to comment that the government efforts for the rehabilitation of earthquake survivors have not borne fruits. In spite of all the towering claims made by the government there are still hundreds of people who are forced to sleep in the open sky, waiting for relief. Aid and assistance that has arrived in the quake-hit area from both domestic as well as international sources is enough for the reconstruction of Ziarat. There are press reports that indicate unjust distribution of aid and assistance as well as funds being aired by various political parties.
The issue was brought to the Balochistan provincial assembly and in an assembly meeting serious notice of the matter was taken.
In the meeting, member provincial assembly Asfandyar Kakar, while mentioning the death of two children in Khanozai area due to cold, stressed that the provincial government must take effective and concrete measures for the rehabilitation of quake victims. The member of the provincial assembly also said that though relief items were being distributed among the quake survivors, due to poor coordination between the government and non-government agencies relief items were not being properly and evenly distributed.
He said people from areas like Ghair Haqeeqi, Kachlak, Pishin and Loralai were receiving relief goods, but the quake victims from vastly devastated areas were still without relief items.
Asfandyar Kakar, stressing on the government to take necessary measures, said the relief goods were being sold in Quetta. The house expressed its grave concern at the disclosure and stressed the government to take serious notice of the situation so that rehabilitation of the earthquake victims could be ensured.
Provincial Minister for Forests Maulana Abdul Samad Akhunzada, while expressing his views, said the earthquake that rocked Ziarat and other areas of Balochistan on October 29 was devastating and had badly affected the areas. But responding to the catastrophe various political parties, the federal government, Sindh, Punjab and NWFP came out to rescue the affected people. Lauding the efforts, he said cooperation and assistance was extended at all levels towards the rehabilitation of the earthquake victims. “For this we are thankful to them from the bottom of our heart,” the legislator said.
The provincial minister said after the immediate rescue operation the process of relief was continuing and in the third phase the quake survivors would be provided with accommodation facility as winter would soon get severe and snowfall would start.
The provincial minister for irrigation, Sardar Aslam Bazenjo, while expressing his views, said a lot of funds had been provided both by the domestic as well as international sectors. In the past, he mentioned a lot of funds were also provided for the flood victims of the province. Sardar Aslam Bazenjo said in the past too a lot of funds that was provided were not used properly due to which the flood victims failed to get the level of relief that they should have received.
The provincial minister for irrigation said there was a need to ensure just distribution of funds and rehabilitation of the quake victims.
While speaking on the occasion provincial ministers Shafiq Ahmed Khan, Maulvi Ghulam Sarwar, Ghazala Golla, Robina Irfan, Sardar Rustam Jamali, Engr Zamarak Khan and others expressed solidarity with the earthquake victims. The provincial ministers stressed that the provincial government should take the people and the media into confidence for removing the reservations and doubts.
The ministers said the provincial government was taking all possible measures to help the quake victims and it was their prime responsibility to ensure construction of the new houses so as to save the survivors from the severe cold.
The reservations expressed by the political parties followed by the members of the Balochistan assembly required to be looked into properly. The protest demonstrations against the unjust distribution of funds on political basis are still being staged in various parts of the province. It is unfortunate that some people are using the situation towards achieving their ends.
Taking serious notice of the situation, Chief Minister Balochistan Nawab Mohammad Aslam Raeesani said no concession would be given to such elements. He said the government was using all available resources for the rehabilitation of the earthquake victims.
The government as part of its policy of solving problems through dialogue and talks had restored 59 employees of PPL and OGDC to their jobs who were dismissed during the Musharraf government.
They include Jamil Akbar Bugti, the son of Nawab Muhammad Akbar Khan Bugti. A resolution was passed by the Balochistan assembly regarding the restoration of the dismissed employees. Through the resolution it was demanded that the employees dismissed during the Musharraf government be restored. On the recommendation of the Balochistan assembly the dismissed employees of PPL and OGDC were restored.
While talking to Weekly Pulse in this regard, Chief Minister Balochistan, Nawab Mohammad Aslam Raeesani, expressed his gratitude to President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani for announcing the restoration of the dismissed employees.
The chief minister said this step would help improve an atmosphere of confidence between the people of Balochistan and the federal government. Nawab Mohammad Aslam Raeesani said soon after the present setup assumed power it announced to make up for the past grievances and injustices to the province.
He said as part of this policy it was announced that the cases against political detainees would be withdrawn. The chief minister said as part of the announcement first of all cases were withdrawn against Nawab Khair Baksh Marri and his sons, Sardar Akhtar Mengal, and other political detainees.
He said it was imperative to remove the sense of deprivation that prevailed in the province. The chief minister of Balochistan, Nawab Mohammad Aslam Raeesani, expressed his hope that the government would also solve other problems facing the province. He said it was his hope that the resources of the province would be put to best possible use and the people of the province would get the benefit.