KARACHI, Oct 31: The Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal has demanded that quake-affected areas be declared as ‘calamity-hit zones’ and be exempted from all kinds of taxes. In a joint statement, MNA Mohammad Hussain Mehnati, Abdul Sattar Afghani and Mohammad Laeeq Khan also alleged that despite passage of 24 days now, the government had not yet been able to make its relief operation effective and had also failed to announce any relief for Kohistan area.

They claimed that relief and evacuation of affected people were being hampered due to the use of helicopters by government functionaries for ‘photo sessions’.

Meanwhile, the Al-Khidmat Welfare Society has dispatched six truckloads of relief goods, including blankets and food items, to Muzaffarabad, Mansehra and Abbotabad from where the same would be distributed among needy people. Dr Mairajul Huda Siddiqui has pledged more aid for quake victims.

Former city nazim Niamatullah Khan has demanded release of the Al-Rehmat Trust who had been arrested while collecting donations for quake victims.

Syed Tanzeem Wasti of the Muslim Aid, UK, told a news conference on Monday that British Prime Minister Tony Blair should visit quake-affected areas in Pakistan and see the devastation caused by the calamity.