October 10, 2007	Wednesday	Ramazan 27, 1428

MANSEHRA, Oct 9: Hundreds of earthquake survivors belonging to Allai, Battagram and Oghi took out a procession here on Tuesday in protest against the Earthquake Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Authority (Erra).

“We lost everything in the Oct 8, 2005, earthquake but the federal government, instead of rehabilitating us, set up Erra to plunder billions of rupees meant for the affected people and areas,” said one of the people attending the rally.

Carrying banners and placards, the protesters marched through various roads and reached Zafar Park. They were chanting slogans against the government, the Erra and the Provincial Earthquake Rehabilitation and Reconstruction (Perra).

Some women from the affected areas also took part in the demonstration and told reporters that it was their lawful right to raise their voice against injustices being committed by officials of the Erra and Perra.

Addressing the demonstrators Khan Bahadar, Habibur Rehman, Muhammad Mushtaq and Gul Nawaz, among others, said two years had passed since the tragedy, but over 60 per cent of the quake-affected families were living in makeshift houses as another winter was approaching.