KARACHI, Oct 16: Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief Altaf Hussain has appealed to philanthropists and multinational companies to arrange on temporary basis one or two helicopters to help his party workers carrying out relief operations in areas still cut off or inaccessible because of the Oct 8 catastrophe.
He lamented that teams of volunteers and doctors with goods and medicines sent by the Muttahida Qaumi Movement had started work for earthquake victims in Muzaffarabad, Balakot, Bagh and Mansehra. However, he said, they were handicapped for want of logistics.
He said that the party was receiving frantic calls through telephones and faxes to help thousands of people, including ladies, and young and old, waiting in those areas for medical aid and essential supplies. They needed immediate attention, he added and disclosed that the MQM had contacted the government but the later itself was dependant for helicopters from outside. It was therefore imperative that philanthropists and multinationals should arrange at least for some time a couple of helicopters to enable the MQM to despatch its medical and other teams to affected areas and help the suffering humanity.
Those willing to come forward could contact MQM nerve centre 90 on telephone numbers 6329900, 6313690, 6329131, 6333811, or party’s international secretariat telephone 0044-208-905-7300.
The party, in the meantime, despatched another team of 20 doctors and paramedical staff along with medicines worth several hundred thousands of rupees for the victims.
According to a press release, deputy nazim-elect Nasreen Jalil saw off three trucks loaded with medicines and relief goods for the affected areas. She also reviewed the relief work at party’s welfare wing, Khidmat-i-Khalq Foundation.
At Muzaffarabad medical camp set up by the MQM, thousands of people had been treated, including those being sent by the Army Medical Corps, it added.
Yaum-i-Dua: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement observed Yaum-i-Dua (Prayers Day) in remembrance of those who lost their lives and those who have been left destitute as a result of the tragic earthquake of Oct 8.
The prayer session was held in all cities and towns of Sindh, as well as in Punjab, the NWFP, Balochistan and Azad Kashmir on Sunday.
MQM chief Altaf Hussain led the countrywide prayer session and recited verses from Holy Quraan. He offered fateha for those killed and prayed for quick recovery and health of those injured in the disaster whose parallel was unmatched so far in Pakistan’s history.
Thousands of workers participated in the “dua” at Karachi and other places.
In his brief remarks, Mr Hussain appealed to people to adopt a child or two who had become orphans.
He praised the sincere efforts, courage and dedication of the Khidmat-i-Khalq Foundation volunteers and doctors of MQM Medical Aid Committee for attending to the needs of the victims. He said that relief goods were still being collected and dispatched to the affected areas.
KARACHI, Oct 16: Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief Altaf Hussain has appealed to philanthropists and multinational companies to arrange on temporary basis one or two helicopters to help his party workers carrying out relief operations in areas still cut off or inaccessible because of the Oct 8 catastrophe.
