'Revolving Fund set up for terror-hit zones, NA told

ISLAMABAD - Condemning the incidents of target killing in Karachi, Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Tuesday informed the National Assembly that a report had been sought from the provincial assembly. Premier Gilani assured this to MQM, coalition partner of his government in Federation as well as in Sindh Government, that staged walkout from the House proceedings against target killings and harassment of its MPAs in Sindh. The prime minister said that law and order was a provincial subject and the federal government could not directly interfere. I have called Sindh Governor and Chief Minister on the law and order situation and sought a detailed report. The report will be shared with the House as it is received, Gilani said. He further informed the House that concerned authorities had been directed to establish a Victim Fund for those fell prey to terrorism. He added that the directions would be implemented as these were executed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The prime minister said that Shaheed Fund had already been set up for the martyrs of Pakistan Army and law enforcement agencies and the required money had been released from Prime Minister Fund for the said purpose. He said a fund had been set up in Information and Broadcasting Ministry for those journalists who became victims of terrorism. Gilani also announced establishment of a Revolving Fund for immediate rehabilitation of infrastructure. He said bazaars, schools, hospitals, bus stands, railway stations were easy targets of terrorists and the financial help being received from Friends of Democratic Pakistan (FoDP) and other financial institutions was being spent on reconstruction and rehabilitation of schools on priority basis. Earlier, speaking on a point of order, central leader of MQM Haidar Abbas Rizvi said the government had left Karachi on the mercy of terrorists and no one including state machinery was safe in the economic hub of the country. He said the target killing had once again started and 200 workers of MQM had been killed in last six months. Besides that, a number of their members of Sindh Assembly could not attend the session due to law and order situation. He termed it an international conspiracy against Pakistan to de-stabilise economic engine of the country. Minister for Religious Affairs Khurshid Shah also assured the MQM that he would convey their concerns to the provincial government and requested his coalition partner to come back to the floor of the House after which MQM rejoined the proceedings. Later, taking part in budget debate, chief of PPP-S Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao suggested the government to set up a Revolving Fund for immediate rehabilitation and reconstruction in terror-hit areas. He said the Revolving Fund should be aimed at restarting immediate reconstruction and rehabilitation work in the affected areas soon after the operation against the militants and terrorists to demoralise the militants as well as to encourage the displaced people to return homes. Sherpao further suggested that a trust should also be established for financial assistance and permanent care of victim families of terror incidents. He said the countrys image had badly been distorted due to incidents of terrorism and extremism despite sacrifices. He suggested sending governments representatives to different countries across the globe to present a real picture of Pakistan. The image of the country is damaged. We need a national initiative. All political parties, media and civil society should think on it. We will have to make a road map to handle it, he added. He said the Institutions should not blame each other, as it was not good for them. We will have to move forward. The government should implement the Abbottabad Commission report, he demanded. He said, We have to decide whether this war is of US or ours or was forced on us. We have to make it clear in our minds that whether this war is against terrorism, extremism or an international conspiracy against Pakistan. Now the country is facing foreign pressure. If we address this issue properly, the voices of do more can be stopped. Our miss-governance and lack of unity is giving them strength to do so. I agree with Shahbaz Sharif that we need unity to resolve our issues. The government claimed that it had to face 68 billion dollar loss in war against terror which would further increase in war continued. Did anyone ever think that how long this war would continue and how much time would be required to get the region stabilised, he maintained. PML-N lawmaker Zahid Hamid, while debating on the budget, said government could not bridge the revenue gap or deficit, as targeted in last three budgets and no steps were taken to control the current expenditures. He said imposing tax through Ordinance was unconstitutional and the money bill should come into parliament. He said a session could be summoned for this purpose which was not done. MQM and PML-N had submitted a notice of disapproval in the Secretariat of the National Assembly but the government did not even bother to reply, he added. He said eight ordinances issued in 2010 had not been presented to the National Assembly and, now, when 90 days had passed, these were being presented to the Lower House. He urged the chair to direct government for presenting all remaining ordinances in the House. MNA s from minorities including Nelson Azeem and Kishan Chan Perwani urged the government not to devolve their ministry and take steps for the welfare of communities in Pakistan that will boost the image. Others who also spoke include Dr Azra Fazal, Shagufta Sadiq, Robina Qaimkhani, Rana Afzal, Shamshad Sattar Bachani and Akram Ansari.

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