BAGH, March 4: A former chief of Jamaat-i-Islami’s Azad Kashmir chapter, Abdul Rashid Turrabi, has urged the government to resolve people’s problems and compensate them on family rather than on individual basis.

Speaking at a public meeting here on Saturday, Mr Turabi said it was unfair to expect quake victims to make utility bill payments and defended the sharp reaction of the people against the move.

He called upon the government to write off the utility bills of quake victims for a year and provide relief to subscribers. Food rations, relief goods and steel sheets should be distributed to affected traders and citizens on behalf of the district coordinating officer in Bagh.

Saturday’s meeting was chaired by Syed Wajahat Gardezi. Other speakers at the meeting included JUI deputy secretary Altaf Azad, District Amir of JUI (AJK) Maulana Imtiaz Siddiqui and President of AJK Union of Journalists Sardar Tahir Ahmad Abbasi.

The speakers condemned the blasphemous cartoons that were published in some European newspapers and noted that the action had hurt the sentiments of the world’s billion-and-a-half-strong Muslims. They also called for severing of diplomatic ties with the countries involved.

Addressing the meeting as a special guest, Mr Turabi said that anti-Islamic powers were scared of Islam. He said the government had failed to carry out relief and rehabilitation of quake-hit victims and regretted their wretchedness saying Islamabad-based rulers were oblivious of the situation.

“Donors are already expressing lack of trust in the government and people are now protesting against the wrong policies of the government and have come out on the street,” he added. —Online