KARACHI, July 1: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement on Sunday called upon the government to give the calamity-hit status to the affected areas of Sindh, Balochistan and the NWFP, waive taxes and announce a special relief package for the victims.

Speaking at a press conference at the party’s headquarters, MQM deputy-convener Dr Farooq Sattar said his party was starting relief operations for the victims of rains and flood in Sindh, Balochistan and the NWFP and setting up camps in Karachi and Hyderabad for collecting relief goods.

He said the MQM had also urged the president, prime minister and the federal cabinet to expedite rescue operations and take all-out measures to rehabilitate the affected people.

He appealed to industrialists, traders and generous people to donate cloth, medicines and food items for the victims of rains and flood to the Muttahida.

Dr Sattar deplored that some anti-MQM religious and political parties were giving political colour to the natural disaster that killed dozens of people in Karachi by holding the MQM responsible for the mismanagement.

He said there was a need that the nation should be united to meet the challenge.

He highlighted measures being taken by his party and the city government to provide relief to the affected people in Karachi.

He expressed solidarity with the affected people in Sindh, Balochistan and the NWFP and expressed condolence with the bereaved families.

The Muttahida Qaumi Movement deputy-convenor said that the National Disaster Management Authority should complete its preparation prior to the disaster and floods.

In reply to a question, Dr Sattar reiterated his party’s demand that the federal government and the KESC should pay consumers’ electricity bill for the month of June because the people of Karachi suffered massive loadshedding in June.