MPs body may oversee NDMA relief operation

ISLAMABAD: The terms of reference (TORs) choreographed for 25-member Parliament Special Committee of the two houses on coronavirus disease have provided that committee will deliberate about monitoring role of National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and its relief operations but no reference has been identified about the so-called Corona Tiger Force (CTF) that has been established by the prime minister for reaching the poor and needy. The government has announced setting-up of 17,000 points for distribution of Rs12,000 per family among one hundred fifty million poorest of the poor people from today (Thursday). The 12-member sub-committee has adopted 12-point TORs on Wednesday. Well-placed sources told The News that the main committee will have its meeting today (Thursday) under the Speaker National Assembly, but it has been officially declared it as “in-camera” session where the media has been barred to enter. The 25-member committee is consisting of 13 members from Senate while 12 members belong to the National Assembly including former Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf, Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Hussain Qureshi, Dr. Khalid Maqbool Siddiquee, Chaudhary Tariq Bashir Cheema, Muhammad Akhtar Mengal, Amir Haider Hoti, ‘senator Mushahidullah Khan, Shibli Faraz, Ms. Sherry Rehman, Mir Hasil Khan Bizenjo, Sirajul Haq, Ms. Sitara Ayaz, Dr. Jehanzaib Jamaldini, and other leaders of the Parliamentary Groups in two houses have been included in the main committee. Federal ministers Pervez Khattack, Azam Khan Swati, Asad Umar, Advisor to the Prime Minister Dr. Abdul Hafeez Sheikh and SAPM Zafar Mirza have been listed as ex-officio member of the committee.

The committee is viewed as “Mini Parliament” in the absence of regular sessions of the two houses of Parliament due to corona Pandemic. Senator Mushahidullah Khan raised his voice about conduct of Prime Minister Imran Khan in main committee’s maiden session where he quitted the sitting after addressing it in the outset through video links and since then national cohesion is missing in fight against the coronavirus.

He pointed out that despite prime minister’s repeated appeals, people aren’t respecting lockdown plea. He was of the view that it’s because of the attitude of the prime minister and lack of confidence of the people in him, that the people aren’t observing the restrictions. The TORs included clause of engaging media in creating and promoting national narrative on coronavirus.

The main committee in its meeting will also discuss steps for protection of economy. The committee will involve parliamentarians and assign them role to combat coronavirus and oversee/ monitor relief operations and National Action Plan (NAP) in this regard. The sources said that the performance of the government for dealing with the pandemic will come under strict security in the course of today’s meeting. The TORs have also proposed that the main committee should have its meeting once in a week till the elimination of coronavirus.