Joyride MPs ignore earthquake tragedy
Parliamentarians belonging to both the opposition and treasury benches have apparently little time for their compatriots hit by the devastating earthquake on October 8, the worst in the country’s history.
A top official has confirmed to The News that since the earthquake hit northern parts of the country, killing tens of thousands of people, so far three top parliamentary delegations, having equal representation both from the opposition and treasury benches, have landed in Geneva, Holland and Belgium.
A minister of state proceeded abroad on a parliamentary trip despite learning of the catastrophe before taking off. Another important feature of the trips of these parliamentary delegations is that they have gone out of the country in violation of Prime Minister
The prime minister had formulated this policy to address the issue of quorum. But, obviously these parliamentarians had other ideas. An official of the National Assembly Secretariat while confirming that certain parliamentary groups had indeed gone abroad despite the crisis-like situation in the wake of the earthquake, said it was quite unfortunate that when the quake victims could do with all the financial aid at hand, members of parliamentary delegations were being given foreign exchange in the name of “daily allowance”.
When this correspondent tried to get the version of Secretary National Assembly Chaudhary Muhammad Rafiq Gujar he, too, was reported to be in London with another official delegation on official tour.
All the parliamentary delegations left knowing well about the massive earthquake. Members of these delegations justified their visits, saying they would utilise the trips to raise awareness among foreign countries about the earthquake victims and their urgent needs.
The longest trip has been planned by Speaker National Assembly Chaudhary Amir Hussain, who will stay in Geneva for about 10 days to attend a United Nations-called donors conference that has been called to collect funds for Pakistan.
The conference will be held on October 26 but the parliamentary delegation has left Pakistan a week earlier than the scheduled meeting. A Foreign Office diplomat, however, on condition of anonymity, confirmed that there was absolutely no need for the speaker to lead a big delegation of parliamentarians to Geneva for 10 days as every country is already seized with the disaster in Pakistan and no-one needed any lobbying to collect money for the victims back home.
However, it could not be ascertained whether the invitation to speaker to attend Geneva conference was extended by Foreign Office or the speaker took the initiative on his own. When this correspondent contacted the Foreign Office, its newly appointed spokesperson refused to receive the call. Her staff member, Shahzad, simply said she could not take the call.
An official has confirmed that millions of rupees would be spent from taxpayers’ money on these expensive tours. All the expenditures of these visits would be borne by government of Pakistan. In addition to free traveling and lodging, these parliamentarians would also get daily allowances during their long stay in the foreign land.
Source: The News
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When someone becomes ‘deen-less’ (s)he will become shameless and heartless, then you can expect anything from him/her.
Politicians are all cut from the same cloth, ours are just the champions of corruption and inhumane behavior.
Lack of accountability is partly to be blamed. The only comfort we have is that they will be accountable in the hereafter. God is keeping score. So let them take their trips to EU and have fun, judgement day is approaching real FAST !
May Allah give us all hidaya