LAHORE, Nov 15: MQM leader Altaf Husain says that his party is ready to work with the Jamaat-i-Islami, the PPP, the PML-N and other parties for the welfare of the quake- hit people. Speaking at a telephonic press conference here on Tuesday, he said if he could send from London Rs2.25 billion relief aid for the victims, why Mian Nawaz Sharif and Ms Benazir Bhutto could not do so.

“We should come forward to help our brethren instead of looking towards the United States and other developed nations.”

He regretted that the country did not have equipment to rescue the people buried alive under the debris of their houses.

Calling for joint relief activities, he said it was not the time to weaken the government rather people should strengthen it so that it could focus its attention on rehabilitation of the affected people.

About the presence of Nato troops in the quake-hit areas, he said the troops were here for relief work and no one should talk negatively about them.