KARACHI, Oct 28: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) has urged all religious and political parties to forget their differences and join hands to provide relief to the earthquake survivors who, if not provided relief in time, would suffer greatly in the fast ensuing winter.

In a statement, the MQM Chief, Altaf Hussain, said the Oct 8 earthquake had left thousands dead and injured while hundreds of thousands had been rendered shelterless. He said the destruction was so huge that the government alone could not do much.

He urged the political and religious parties to send their relief teams along with relief goods accompanied by their parliamentarians, so they could also participate in the relief work.

He said weather conditions were getting harsher in the earthquake affected areas where winter was about to set in, and if relief goods, warm clothing and shelter was not provided to the survivors soon, they might not be able to survive the winter.

Meanwhile, another eight-member medical team of the Khidmat-i-Khalq Foundation (KKF) comprising doctors and paramedical staff has reached Islamabad to provide medical assistance to earthquake victims, adds APP.

A statement of the MQM issued on Friday said the team had also carried along with it a huge stock of medicines and surgical equipment.

It said the MQM on Thursday despatched another shipment of relief goods loaded on four containers and trucks for the quake victims.

It was also informed that a large number of applications on the call of the KKF had been received from doctors willing to volunteer their services to the victims.

The statement further said the KKF’s annual aid programme would be held at the Jinnah Ground in Azizabad on Sunday.

Tokens for collection of goods have been issued to the poor and the deserving people after receipt of applications from them.