PESHAWAR, Oct 15: Awami National Party chief Asfandyar Wali Khan has urged the people of Pakistan, especially his party leaders and workers, not to celebrate Eid and instead donate the money for the families of earthquake victims.

Speaking at a news conference here on Saturday, Mr Khan said the earthquake had resulted in unprecedented loss of life and property in the upper Hazara division, where displaced people were spending nights without shelter, food, water and electricity. The calamity-hit people had been left on the mercy of nature, however it was the duty of the unhurt people to help them in the hour of need, he added.

ANP senior vice-president Haji Ghulam Ahmed Bilour, ANP vice-president Haji Mohammad Adeel, ANP provincial president Bashir Ahmed Bilour and other leaders were present on the occasion.

ANP workers, he said, on their own had set up relief camps in certain districts and transported relief goods for the affected people of Battagram, Shangla and Mansehra and they were to the day involved in the relief and rescue activities in the villages of Battal, Kohistan and Mansehra.

Mr Wali said he had opened an account (5138/7) with the Khyber Bank’s city branch at Soekarno Chowk, to collect funds for orphan children, widows and other displaced and injured people of upper Hazara region.

He said he himself would tour the affected areas on Oct 25 to ascertain the magnitude of the disaster.

Haji Adeel and Bashir Bilour announced donation of Rs50,000 and Rs100,000, respectively, for the ANP President’s Relief Fund and set an example for other party leaders and workers to contribute to the party’s relief fund for the affected people.