Opposition rejects Donors’ moot invitation
By Zulfiqar Ahmad

ISLAMABAD—The joint opposition Friday decided to keep itself away from the International Donors Conference, being held today (Saturday) for raising funds for the rehabilitation of the October 8 quake affectees. The opposition would not attend the meeting as it had not been taken into confidence about International Donors Conference being held in Islamabad.
The top leaders of the ARD and MMA after consultation with each other on telephone announced that they would not attend the conference. In an interview with a private TV channel, Jamat-i-Islami chief Qazi Hussain Ahmed announced that his party would not attend the International Donors Conference. “Jamaat-i-Islami would not attend the conference as the opposition has not been taken into confidence about holding of the conference”, he said, adding, “Since opposition has no role in the conference, therefore, it does not make any difference either it attend or not”. Likewise, Secretary General of Pakistan People’s Party Parliamentarian, Raja Pervaiz Ashraf declared that the Alliance for Restoration of Democracy had decided to keep a distance from the conference.
He said the decision to this effect was reached after hectic consultations among the heads of the alliance. “All major decisions have already been taken and it did not make any difference either the opposition take part in the conference or not”, he remarked.. However, he said all the parties in the alliance prayed for the success of the conference. Meanwhile, Pakistan Muslim league (N) in a meeting held with Chairman Raza Zafar ul Haq in the chair also decided not to attend the meeting because, the meeting observed the opposition had been invited only to sit among the audience, with their no role in the deliberations.
Pakistan Muslim League (N), in consultation with other opposition parties, has decided not to attend the Donors Conference because the government has invited them to sit among the audience, and the opposition leaders will not be able to play any role in the deliberations. A meeting of the PML (N) leaders took the decision on Friday, which was presided over by party chairman Raja Muhammed Zafarul Haq and attended by acting parliamentary leader Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Secretary General Iqbal Zafar Jhagra, Vice Presidents Syed Zafar Ali Shah and Mushahidullah Khan, Parliamentarians Sardar Mehtab Khan, Maimoona Hashmi, Raja Nadir Pervez, and Saadia Abbasi, Central Joint Secretary Raja Ashfaq Sarwar, Federal Capital General Secretary Malik Shujaur Rehman and central Information secretary Muhammed Siddique-ul-Farooque.
Wishing success to the conference the meeting hoped that all national and foreign assistance received for quake affectees would be spent honestly and with a sense of accountability, so that the 3.5 million affected people were able to look after themselves as soon as possible. The PML (N) leaders doubted the success of the relief and rehabilitation system set up under officials of unenviable repute, because not only it was kept above accountability, but the parliament and the government also had been barred from playing any role. They paid tribute to the people, who came out from Khyber to Karachi to help their brothers in need, and thus proved that Pakistanis were a vibrant nation. The meeting also thanked foreign countries and world bodies for their assistance.
The meeting deplored the fact that the opposition was neither consulted nor was briefed before convening the donors conference, while the opposition leaders had been invited to participate only as audience, with no role for them in the deliberations. The leaders noted that the opposition had been in fore front of the relief work from day one, and the PML (N) as well as other political parties had deferred their plans to launch decisive movement against the unconstitutional government. The opposition offered unqualified cooperation with the government which was practically spurned by the rulers. Positive proposals suggested by the opposition were also rejected, which reflected dictatorial mindset of the government. The PML (N) leaders reiterated their demand to shift the relief work from military officers to the Parliament with proper audit arrangements.
Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) announced late Friday not to participate in the long-awaited Donor Conference scheduled to be held today (Saturday), however Maulana Fazlur Rahman would attend the meeting in capacity of leader of the opposition in the National Assembly.
Leader of the Opposition in the Senate Mian Raza Rabbani was prompted to say that he would not attend the Donor Conference to abide by party’s decision.
MMA sources informed Online that religious alliance central leaderships allowed Maulana Fazlur Rahman to attend the Donor Conference in capacity as leader of the opposition in the lower house.
However, it was underlined that MMA any other member would not participate in the Donor Conference.
When contacted opposition leader in the upper house Raza Rabbani, he said, “though the ARD has decided not to attend the conference therefore I am bound to abide by party’s decisions and will not participate in the conference”.
Chief Minister NWFP Akram Khan Durrani would also attend the Donor Conference as chief executive of the province.
Maulana Sami-ul-Haq soon after extended invitation by the government accepted to participate in the Donor Conference.