October 2005 earthquake: CJP takes suo moto notice of embezzlement in financial assistance for survivors

MANSEHRA: Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar has taken suo moto notice of large scale embezzlement in the over five billion US dollars financial assistance pledged by the international community for families that survived the October 2005 earthquake.

The apex court fixed March 26 for hearing of the case.

The chief justice took the suo moto notice on an application moved by a social activist from Mansehra, Sheraz Mehmood Qureshi, and summoned the parties concerned to appear in court.

Qureshi had pleaded with the apex court to expose the politicians and officials who according to him embezzled the funds.

The attorney general of Pakistan, advocate general of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, director general Earthquake Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Authority (Erra), Islamabad and Qureshi were summoned by the court to ensure their presence at the hearing.

“The people of Mansehra alone suffered over 17,000 deaths in the tragedy some 12 years back. Balakot had crumbled to ruins and local people buried over 14,000 loved ones but financial assistance meant for compensation and rehabilitation of survivors is embezzled. They are still at mercy of extreme weather living under makeshift arrangements,” said Qureshi in his application to the chief justice.

He said that people of Balakot were still living in makeshift prefabricated houses donated by Saudi Arabia but new Balakot city housing project was still in doldrums.

“Schools and health facilities destroyed in unmatched tragedy some 12 years ago are still unconstructed and this affected the education and healthcare services for people in Balakot and other quake-hit parts in the district,” said Qureshi.

He asked the apex court to hold an audit inquiry of all foreign financial assistance, which was pledged by international community for the 2005 earthquake victims and expose all those politicians and government officials involved in this large scale corruption.

“Erra was set up to end miseries of survivors just after unmatched natural calamity of recent history but its officials, mostly retired from army, purchased luxurious vehicles for their personal comfort,” said Qureshi.