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MQM to continue relief work in AJK

Staff Report

LAHORE: Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s (MQM) relief efforts would continue until earthquake victims’ complete rehabilitation, said its Punjab organiser Nauman Saigol in a press conference on Thursday. MQM’s operations have resumed on the government’s security assurance after being suspended two days ago when its workers and leaders were tortured and harassed by a religious party, he said.

The adviser to Sindh chief minister said MQM had gone to the quake-hit areas to serve the suffering victims and not to indulge in confrontation with any political party, and the locals had said they would boycott relief goods from all other organisations if MQM did not resume its activities. He said MQM could coordinate with any political party or community for reconstruction.

He said MQM had set up relief camps in all affected areas including Bagh, Balakot, Muzaffarabad and Battagram, and Altaf Hussain, the party chief, was monitoring the activity from London. He asked for continued support by philanthropists and the public.

He said the party had allocated Rs 35 million for quake victims’ temporary shelter in rented containers and had distributed relief goods worth Rs 1.2 billion so far, including blankets and quilts, medicines, artificial limbs and food.

Replying to a question, he said the party would take action against the activists who wrote the party’s slogans on walls of destroyed houses in Muzaffarabad.

Mercy Relief’s doctors join JI’s field hospitals: A fourth doctors and paramedics team from Singapore’s Mercy Relief arrived in Muzaffarabad to assist Pakistan Islamic Medical Association doctors at Jamaat-e-Islami’s (JI) relief camps and field hospitals.

A JI press release said the team’s leader Dr Tan met the outgoing third team’s leader Dr Suresh and took charge of the operation.

Dr Tan said the people of Singapore would continue their support and Singaporean doctors would continue serving Pakistani earthquake victims for as long as it was required. He said Mercy Relief doctors had worked in Bosnia, Kosovo and the tsunami-hit areas. Dr Riaz Sheikh thanked Singapore for its support and its doctors’ professional and humanitarian response.

Meanwhile JI Women Wing Secretary General Senator Dr Kausar Firdaus asked Pakistani lady doctors to volunteer to serve in quake victims in a statement on Thursday.

She said the government had left quake victims, including women and children, on the weather’s mercy but lady doctors could help lessen their sufferings. She said lady doctors were required in JI’s field hospitals in Muzaffarabad, Balakot and Bagh because the female patients outnumbered males. She said the volunteers would be provided with guidance boarding and lodging.

US committed to support relief: Lahore US Consulate Principal Officer Brian Heath said the United States was committed to supporting efforts for earthquake survivors’ early rehabilitation, APP reports.

Talking to Talking to Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI)President Mian Shafqat Ali on Thursday, he said the US had already given $156 million in cash and more money was in the pipeline. He said 1,000 US personnel and 30 US helicopters were involved in relief efforts. He praised the LCCI’s response.

The LCCI president thanked the US government for its support and said the UN’s $6.5 billion demand needed three to four times more than the pledged foreign donations. He said $450 million was immediately required to save the survivors from the approaching harsh winter. LCCI Vice President Aftab Ahmad Vohra said the LCCI’s had given Rs 44 million in cash and goods.

Pakistani American doctors pledge support: Pakistan American Doctors Association (PADA) called for the international community’s help in relief activities and assured cooperation, in a press conference in Lahore. APP reports that PADA President Dr Syed Ibrahim expressed grief over the loss of lives and said the entire nation should participate in relief operation.

He recounted the organisation’s relief efforts and said necessary equipment would be arranged locally for the treatment of earthquake victims

Women’s solidarity visit to quake-hit areas: Lahore Media Forum has arranged a visit of Kashmiri martyrs’ female relatives and female reporters of Lahore to the quake-hit areas in the NWFP and Azad Kashmir, to express solidarity with earthquake victims, especially women and children.

The team will leave from Lahore Press Club (LPC) November 11 morning and will return the next evening, APP quoted LPC sources.

Khaksar Tehrik to set up tent village in Abbottabad: The Khaksar Tehrik will set up “Allama Al-Mashraqi Tent Village” for 500 families of earthquake survivors at Abbottabad, APP quoted Khaksar Tehrik Chief Hameeduddin Al-Mashraqi.

He was talking to reporters while dispatching relief goods on Thursday. He said the organisation would continue their relief activities until the victims’ complete rehabilitation.

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