MANSEHRA, Oct 6: Pakistan People’s Party on Saturday demanded that the Supreme Court take a suo motu notice of the long delay in the execution of New Balakot City housing project whose ground breaking ceremony was held in 2007.

“People of Balakot are tired of photo opportunities by government functionaries, including ministers, on anniversaries of the Oct 2005 earthquake, as they did nothing tangible for the victims of the natural calamity,” said Amanullah, patron-in-chief of PPP in Balakot.

“We appeal to Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry to take a suo motu notice of the long delay in the project’s execution for corrective measures,” he added.

He said people of Balakot continued to live in the two-room makeshift shelters in highly-miserable condition but the Rs13.2 billion project was in doldrums.

He said Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority was not committed to resolving the earthquake victims’ misery.

“We are unable to understand why landowners are not vacating land despite being paid Rs1.4 billion. I want to ask if landowners are above the law,” said Mr Amanullah.

He said Raja Pervez Ashraf visited Balakot city and saw ravages of earthquake before becoming the prime minister and therefore, he should take adequate steps to address the misery of calamity-hit people.