KARACHI, Nov 11: The Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) has criticized the government for keeping the nation in the dark with regard to the losses from the October 8 earthquake, and demanded grant of at least Rs250,000, instead of just Rs25,000, to each of the quake-hit family for construction of shelters.

In a press statement, MNAs Mohammad Hussain Mehanti, who has returned to the city after a visit to the quake-ravaged areas, deplored that the government treated the affected people as ‘third-rate citizens’, indicating that with the meagre amount of Rs25,000, they could not even construct a toilet.

He said that rains and snowfall had started in northern areas and Kashmir and the quake-hit people were made to face the harsh winter in makeshift shelters which could not protect them.

He warned that the government would bear the responsibility of casualties from the cold weather.

Referring to the financial crunch in meeting the calamity, he questioned the government’s claims of having billions in foreign currency in the exchequer, arguing: ‘Had the government been in possession of such a huge forex reserves, why were thousands of people in the quake-hit areas were dying of hunger, cold and lack of medical assistance?”

Naib Amir of Jamaat-i-Islami Hafiz Idrees alleged that the government was seizing relief goods being sent to the JI from people abroad for quake victims.—PPI