Senators contribute over Rs 13 million donations for flood victims

In a rare show of unity in the parliamentary history of Pakistan, the senators have so far contributed Rs 1,32,75000 donations for flood victims in Sindh, which left millions homeless and damaged standing crops, bringing life of the poverty-stricken people to a standstill.
On the second day of the present senate session, which held here on Wednesday with convenor Senator Kazim Khan in the chair, the house was informed that 'Senators Funds for Sindh Flood Victims' has so far collected nearly Rs 1,32,75000 as donations and the amount was solely contributed by the members of the upper house.
Senator Ishaq Dar of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), who has been tasked to collect the fund, said that the response of his colleagues was 'incredible'. He said that the relief goods, purchased from the funds of senators would not be handed over to any government agency like district administration. The house committee would be formed to go flood-affected areas of Sindh and distribute relief goods in a transparent manner so that their first hand benefit reached the victims, he added.
He said that Senator Abdul Nabi Bangash, who has been doing business in Dubai has also suggested to form a committee, comprising one member from each political party, which will go to Dubai soon to collect donations from Pakistani community in the Gulf.
However, some members termed the donations as too small, saying that much could have been collected if known wealthy senators could have contributed with open heart in helping their brethren in time of need. Senator Gul Muhammad Lot of Pakistan People's Party (PPP), who had turned out to be the richest member of Upper House of parliament, announced Rs 1 million.
According to details of assets submitted by him to Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for 2010, he owns property valuing Rs 1.351 billion in and outside Pakistan besides investments of Rs 1.420 billion. He has nine properties abroad including one flat each in London and Saudi Arabia and a villa in UAE. Azam Khan Swati of JUI-F, who is also among the richest senators, contributed only Rs 500,000.
Senator Mir Israr Ullah Zehri, who is biggest landlord among senators with 51,555 acres agricultural land in seven districts of Balochistan, announced only Rs 200,000 donation for the flood victims. Senator Gulshan Saeed, who owns two houses worth Rs 50 million and agriculture land worth Rs 10 million besides assets remitted from outside Pakistan worth 20 million British ponds including jewellery weighing 1100 tolas worth Rs 44 million and Rs 1 million cash in hand, Rs 8 million in banks and furniture worth Rs 1.1 million, donated only Rs 200,000.
Senator Ishaq Dar, a richest PML-N senator, who owns a house in Gulberg Lahore, valuing Rs 45 million, a 20 kanals land in Islamabad, valuing Rs 7.02 million including a villa in UAE, costing 10.18 million UAE Dirham, offered Rs 1 million. Dar owns three luxurious vehicles including a Mercedes Benz worth Rs 10 million, various shares and business worth millions of dollars in and outside Pakistan.
Abbas Khan, a Fata senator announced Rs 500,000 while IIlyas Bilour and Haji Adeel of Awami National Party (ANP), who are also wealthiest senators from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) announced Rs 200,000 and Rs 5,0000, respectively, which is not at all as per their financial position. The remaining senators have pledged to donate their one month salary for the fund to help their brethren in Sindh.