LAHORE: Kudos! The main leaders of the PPP and the PML-N have shown maturity by shunning their differences and joining hands to help the flood victims in all federating units of the country.

Hats off to Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani and PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif who, by addressing a joint press conference in the federal capital, repelled the impression that the political leadership of the two biggest political forces of the country are trying to steel the show by going to the calamity-hit areas and trying to prove more loyal to them than the others, as several statements were made from the lower tier leadership of these political forces blaming the leaders of opponent parties of “mere photo session service” or going abroad of “personal tour” leaving the countrymen in the lurch. The two leaders agreed on moving together in the calamity-hit areas and forming a commission under the supervision of credible personalities of the country.

The names of Justice (r) Rana Bhagwandas, renowned jurist Fakhruddin G Ibrahim and Human Rights Activist Justice (r) Nasir Aslam Zahid have been made public so far.

The two leaders recognised the wrath of the floods in all parts of the country and vowed to work together for the rebuild and rehabilitate the affected people. On the occasion Nawaz Sharif said, “I have never seen floods like this before. I visited the flood-affected areas. Floods have even taken away the happiness of Independence Day. We are working to provide relief to the people and sending them food and medicines.”

It is a fact that a few words uttered by the top leadership of any party against its opponents open the doors of severe criticism on the rival leaders by the lower tier office-holders. To prove the notion, statements of the lower rank leadership of the two parties during the last two weeks are enough, as they hold no bards to please their party’s top men by maligning the opponents. The situation was same here and the stakeholders were creating an atmosphere of hatred between the Centre and the provinces. In Punjab, a lobby was busy is convincing the people that the Centre was ignoring the province. The prime minister said the provinces should do away with the apprehension that the federal government would abandon them, saying that ‘the federal government would stand by each of the five provinces in this hour of need’.

These words were enough not only for those elements but also for Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif who asked the Centre several times that what share did they have from the foreign donations for his province. The impression of disunity among the political forces was earning bad reputation at the international level too but this joint sitting of the two top men of the country certainly repel that impression.

Gilani said, “The entire world is ready to extend aid and assistance to mitigate sufferings of the flood affected. Donate for your brothers, and this act would restore the global community’s trust in us.” Setting up a non- controversial commission for the untilisation of the funds will boost the confidence of the international community and moving together of Nawaz Sharif and Gilani would fetch more country men to the rescue boat.

Nawaz Sharif said, “to raise funds, we should launch a comprehensive campaign. It is very difficult to stop the devastation caused due to such floods. We are united; there is no difference between government and opposition on this issue. Providing relief to people is our first priority,”

This fact is beyond any doubt that none of the parties’ leaders were less concerned about the flood-hit areas’ inhabitants. They were making humanly possible efforts to rescue them. The flaws in the arrangements and role of bureaucracy are however questionable as in many areas the people’s sufferings are multiplied due to the inefficient state machinery and incapacitate staffers. This fact however can not can not be ignored that the masses at large were reluctant to leave their ‘safe houses’ due to certain reasons—the most concerning matter is the security of their hard earned belongings.

The chief executive of the country, Yousaf Raza Gilani, spent hours in the flood areas of different provinces. Likewise, Nawaz Sharif also visited several parts of the country especially Hazara areas. His younger brother the chief minister of the biggest federating units of the country, Shahbaz Sharif stationed for several days in the calamity-hit areas of southern Punjab.

The efforts were on but independently, and the forces involved in destabilising the political system were making it an issue spreading rumours that the political leadership of the country was not capable on the most vulnerable moments in to take a unanimous stance.

The fact worth mentioning is that the impression was being created that the political leadership was indifferent to the woes of the masses and the Pakistan Army was the only rescuer. The picture was being pained consciously or unconsciously that the political leadership is a different specious and the Army are a different thing.

No one can deny the fact that army personnel were available to help the countrymen all the times whether it was earthquake trouble or the floods hour or the war against terrorism. The army came out the camp to rescue its countrymen with all its arrangements. The army’s role during the earthquake is really commendable as they not only helped out its people but reconstructing of infra structure in those areas could be possible only due to the blessings of the Pakistan Army.

This fact must be kept in mind that the Pakistan Army under the present command was also supported the civil administration but the element with a specific mind set were trying to give impression as the army and civil administration were not on the same page but two different entities.

It is a fact that the floods have hit the whole country including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh, Punjab, Balochistan and Gilgit-Baltistan, showing no sign of mercy. A study of the United Nations says, “At least 1,600 people are killed, thousands are rendered homeless, and more than fourteen million people are affected. Estimates from rescue service officials suggest the death toll may reach 3,000 victims.”

At such moment a message from the top political leadership stating that they were united on the national cause was need of the hour.

Source: Dailytimes

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