Wednesday, 21 December 2011
Dawn News
DADU, Dec 19: Residents of rain-affected villages and towns of the district have accused PPP parliamentarians and local leaders of selling to shopkeepers thousands of blankets sent for them by the Sindh government`s relief department.
PPP MPA Imran Zafar Leghari told Dawn that no blankets were distributed among the rain-affected villages in Khairpur Nathan Shah taluka.
The relief department had sent thousands of blankets for the children of rain affected areas of the district to protect them from cold but they were instead distributed among PPP MNAs, MPAs and local leaders, he said.
He complained that Khairpur Nathan Shah taluka was severely affected by last year`s flood as well as this year`s rains but the area was grossly ignored when it came to distribution of relief. There were many reports that blankets had been sold to shops in Khairpur Nathan Shah town, he said.
Photo Solangi of Gulzar Thebo village said that about 150 houses collapsed in the village during last year`s flood which had not been rebuilt yet. The affected villagers were still living in the open and no one was helping them get blankets, warm clothes or tents and already a minor girl, Samina, died nine days ago because of sever cold, he said.
Nabi Bux, another villager, complained that he sought help from the officials of the government as well as NGOs but no one did anything to protect them from cold weather.
According to an official list of number of blankets to be handed over to PPP MNAs, MPAs and local leaders obtained by this correspondent, 2,000 blankets were to be given to MNA Rafiq Ahmed Jamali, 1,500 to Sindh Minister for Education Pir Mazharul Haq, 1,200 to MNA Talat Mahessar, 800 each to MPAs Kulsoom Chandio, Rasheeda Panhwar, Fiaz Butt and Sajeela Leghari, 500 to irrigation official Aziz Junejo, 400 to PPP leader Shabbir Abro, 100 each to the presidents of the PPP`s chapters of Dadu, Johi, Mehar and Khairpur Nathan Shah taluka.
The list was prepared by the office of the executive district officer of the Community Development Department.
EDO (CDD) Rizwan Ahmed said the blankets were being handed over to PPP MNAs, MPAs and local leaders under the directives of the government.
A resident of Johi, Pir Bux Babbur, accused the local PPP leaders of selling blankets to shopkeepers instead of distributing them among rain-hit people.
Local PPP leader Qambar Leghari admitted the blankets were being sold by some people but many PPP leaders, MNAs and ministers had stored the blankets in their godowns and stores.
He said that although quality of the blankets provided by the EDO of CDD was not so good he distributed them anyway among people in the rain-affected areas of Sita Road town.
MPA Kulsoom Chandio said that lists were being prepared to distribute the blankets.
MNA Jamali said that he was informed by the district administration about the 2,000 blankets lying in government godowns and waiting for his recommendation.
He said that he was distributing the blankets bow and his staff was issuing slips to the needy persons who were collecting blanket from the office of the EDO. Other MNAs, MPAs and PPP leaders would also do the same in a proper manner, he said.
MPA Syed Ghulam Shah Jilani said that 1,000 blankets had been handed over to his staff and they would soon be distributed among rain-hit villagers of Johi taluka.
President of the Dadu taluka chapter of the PPP Saifullah Panhwar said that he and other party leaders were distributing blankets among rain-hit villagers on behalf of the education minister and record of the distribution was being maintained.
