January 20, 2006	Friday	Zilhaj 19, 1426

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ABBOTTABAD, Jan 19: Thousands of earthquake survivors held a rally in Balakot and blocked the city’s main road for more than two hours in protest against alleged discrimination in distribution of relief goods. The protesters chanted slogans against Tehsil Nazim Juned Qasim and MPA Mazhar Ali Qasim and alleged that they were distributing relief goods in their own areas and ignoring the Balakot and Garlat union councils, which were badly affected in the October earthquake.

Garlat UC Nazim Muneer Lughmani told journalists that the NWFP chief minister and the prime minister had ordered representation of earthquake survivors of the two union councils in the process of distribution of relief goods, but the MPA and the tehsil nazim had nominated people from their own areas.

The protesters said that most of the victims of Balakot and Garlat union councils had not received compensation cheques.