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on the record:

Nation’s response commendable’ but government’s not

MANSEHRA: The government has failed to tackle the situation effectively and to estimate the losses rendered by the earthquake, said Benazir Bhutto, the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) chairperson, on Monday. The nation’s response on the earthquake was commendable, Benazir told Sajjad Hussain Jhagra, the All Pakistan Local Government Employees Federation NWFP chapter leader. She said the level of destruction by the earthquake was high as compared to the tsunami. She said because of the government’s wrong policies only a few countries were helping in dealing with the earthquake tragedy. She asked the party workers to work hard to mitigate the sufferings of the victims. online

India and Pakistan should resolve Kashmir dispute

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and India should resolve the Kashmir issue after taking a number of confidence-building measures, said Yasin Malik, the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front chairman. He said there were certain people who wanted to destabilise the Pakistan-India peace process. He said some progress towards the resolution of the Kashmir dispute was imperative to discourage such people. He said it was impossible for both countries to decide on Kashmir without including Kashmiris. Rather it was in the national interest of both countries to take the Kashmiris into confidence, he added. app

Face post-quake situation with courage and patience

PANIOLA: We should face the post-quake situation with courage and patience and the earthquake is a warning for us so that we should repent for all our wrongdoings, said Sardar Muhammad Anwar Khan, the Azad Kashmir president. Speaking at his constituency Poonch No 4, Anwar said the government would resolve all problems itself and would not wait for others. He said the government would rebuild a new Azad Kashmir. He praised the Pakistan Army’s role in the relief activities. He said 100 young people would be selected voluntarily from each union council of the affected areas to help the victims in the winter. online

Kashmiri expatriates and world should help victims

ISLAMABAD: Kashmiri expatriates and international agencies should enhance their support for the relief and the rehabilitation of the victims, said Barrister Sultan Mehmood Chaudhry, the AJK Legislative Assembly opposition leader. He said he would soon visit the United States, Canada, the UK and some European countries to meet Kashmiri expatriates and government officials. “I would appeal to them to enhance their support and donate more for the rehabilitation of the victims in Azad Kashmir,” he added. He said the Indian Leadership should open the Line of Control (LoC) completely to let Kashmiris meet each other. He said the relief activities should speed up before the winter season. app

International community has supported Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: The international community has extended substantial support to Pakistan, but due to the vast destruction it appears small, said Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri, the foreign minister. He said 52 countries had assisted Pakistan while 32 countries had sent their relief teams. He said the British rescue team reached the Margalla Towers the same day the earthquake hit. He said Pakistan needed more international assistance and the Donors Conference in Islamabad would highlight the issue. He said during his visit to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar and the UAE he noticed that those countries wanted to help rehabilitate the victims. app

Government will provide all possible facilities in tent village

ATTOCK: The Punjab government will provide every possible facility for the victims in the tent village at Fateh Jang and will accommodate them until their permanent rehabilitation, said Colonel (r) Malik Muhammad Anwar, the provincial minister for cooperatives. He said the Punjab chief minister had launched a programme of one family accommodation, which would help in the rehabilitation of the victims. During his visit to the tent villages, he said the construction work should be completed in time to facilitate the victims. He asked philanthropists to donate generously for the welfare of the victims. app

Passports to Sharifs will strengthen national solidarity

RAWALPINDI: The issuance of passports to the Sharif family will further strengthen national solidarity, said Syed Kabir Ali Wasti, the Pakistan Muslim League vice president, on Monday. “This climate of spontaneous national outpouring of unity and solidarity should be sustained and advanced further with more similar gestures made by President Musharraf by ordering the issuance of passport to Nawaz Sharif,” he said. He said the issuance of passports to the Sharif family should be treated as their right instead of describing it as a humanitarian move. He said Benazir Bhutto should also be allowed to return as she wanted to join the people of the AJK and the NWFP in their hour of need. online

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