KARACHI, Nov 7: Founder of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement Altaf Hussain has drawn people’s attention to the shortage of food items in the earthquake-hit areas of Azad Kashmir and NWFP, and urged them to donate as much dry eatables as possible.

In a statement issued from London, Mr Hussain said that the shortage was reported by MQM relief teams which further intimated that quake affected people also needed blankets and tents.

Meanwhile, addressing telephonically MQM workers, doctors, paramedics, members of the MQM coordination committee, Khidmat-i-Khalq Foundation workers and legislators in Muzaffarabad, Batgram, Bagh, Balakot, Abbotabad and Mansehra the other day, Mr Hussain said that the humanitarian work being done by his comrades had nullified negative propaganda against the party.

He appreciated his comrades efforts in difficult terrain and said that their selfless work would never be forgotten. He said that carrying injured people on their back in difficult terrain was not an easy task. He appreciated his party workers’ spirit which, he said, had proved the critics wrong.

Mr Hussain also lauded their sacrifice saying that they had even chosen to remain away from their relatives on the occasion of Eidul Fitr only to serve the suffering humanity.

MNA Asrarul Ibad gave details of the relief work being done by MQM workers in these areas. Many MQM leaders and workers spent the Eid day with survivors and distributed Eid gifts among them, especially children, he pointed out.

In-charge of the MQM coordination committee in Pakistan Mr Anwar Alam visited Muzaffarabad’s lower plate area along with other comrades and extended Eid greetings to local people. They also presented them Eid gifts on behalf of Mr Altaf Hussain.

According to an MQM press release, neither any governmental nor non-governmental organizations’ teams had reached this area even a month after the quake had struck it.

On the second day of Eid, Mr Alam sent a truckload of relief items to Bagh from the central relief camp in Islamabad.

MQM doctors and paramedics provided medical aid to hundreds of needy people in affected areas.

Meanwhile a fresh contingent of doctors and paramedics has been sent to the quake affected areas from Karachi by the Khidmat-i-Khalq Foundation.