KARACHI, Oct 17: The Muttahida Quami Movement chief Altaf Hussain has asked the newly elected city, district and town nazims to serve humanity, solve people’s problems, and carry out development work.

In a faxed statement issued by the MQM from London’s secretariat, Mr Hussain stressed upon the Haq Parast nazims that they should also make all possible efforts to help those affected by the earthquake.

The Muttahida chief also spoke to nazims on telephone at the party headquarters ‘90’ in Azizabad, where all nazims had gathered after taking oath of their respective offices. All nazims remained silent for one-minute to express grief and sympathy over the extensive loss of life.

He said that oath-taking ceremony was held at a time when the country was passing through a trial period and the people affected by the quake had been spending their nights in the open. “At this moment, what I should say about the problems and development works in the city. I just ask all of you (nazims) to work with honesty not for yourself but for the people,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief, Altaf Hussain, has said that saving life of people in distress is real jihad and the MQM is presently engaged in the earthquake affected areas of the NWFP and Azad Kashmir.

He was addressing MQM workers engaged in relief operation in Muzaffarabad, Abottabad, Mansehra and Islamabad, members of the parliament besides coordination committee members and those associated with Khidmat-i-Khalq Foundation on Monday.

He commended MQM doctors and other volunteers for putting their own life at risk for rescuing their fellow beings in the NWFP and Azad Kashmir while after shocks of tremors were still being felt and stench from the bodies was becoming unbearable and dangerous to their own health condition.

Altaf Hussain lashed out at religious parties and jihadi outfits, who he alleged had exploited jihad and had pocketed millions collected in the name of Kashmiri cause. He said that such groups were not present on the soil of Kashmir to help the same people in their hour of distress and agony. He said that the MQM had been accused of being against the Kashmiri cause, but its workers and supporters had proved by their deeds that they were with the people of Kashmir.

He also prayed for the departed soul and early recovery and rehabilitation of the survivors.