Reconstruction of Muzaffarabad has been a very sensitive issue for the residents of Muzaffarabad ever since the same had been pledged to them by the authorities concerned. But while the luxuries of these authorities go on unabated, the real task seems nowhere in their priorities. We all are mourning the indifference.
-------------------------
By Tariq Naqash
MUZAFFARABAD, June 24: Hundreds of people from different walks of life staged a demonstration here on Thursday to raise voice against the “unjustified delay” in reconstruction of the earthquake affected urban areas, mainly the AJK capital.
They also warned against staging a long march on to the Parliament building as well the headquarters of Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority (Erra) in Islamabad if their 50-point ‘charter of demands’ was not implemented within one month.
The demonstration was held on the call of a civil society forum - Tehreek-e-Tameer-e-Nau of Movement for Reconstruction (TTN) – along the bustling thoroughfare in Chattar which houses almost all important official buildings, including that of Legislative Assembly which was in session at that time.
Led by Zahid Amin and Shaukat Javed Mir, convenor and secretary general, respectively, of TTN, the demonstrators were holding placards inscribed with their demands as well as disapproval of alleged delay in reconstruction. They were also chanting similar slogans.
Legislators from the constituents of combined opposition, Chaudhry Latif Akbar of PPAJK, Chaudhry Mohammad Rasheed of Peoples Muslim League, Abdul Majid Khan of Friends Group and Mohammad Salim Butt of MQM, also visited the venue demonstration and expressed support and solidarity with them.
They assured them that they would raise the issues of citizens in the house and play their role for their settlement.
The opposition lawmakers accused the present government of having failed to deliver on all counts, including the reconstruction.
Other speakers said that almost five years had elapsed since the devastating October 2005 earthquake but reconstruction related projects had not been initiated in the affected areas, including the state capital.
Tens of hundreds of people, they pointed out, were still living in temporary accommodations as neither the much hyped satellite towns had been developed nor the landless families had been provided with alternate land.
They alleged that the funds meant for reconstruction were being diverted by the concerned authorities somewhere else and whatever was left was being spent on non-productive activities and luxuries.
On its part the AJK government was also brazenly ignoring the reports of international experts regarding strict implementation of building codes and construction in the hazardous areas, notwithstanding the threats it was posing to lives of people.
They said that the earthquake survivors had been constantly offering sacrifices and they would not compromise on the issue of reconstruction.
Ends
No comments:
Post a Comment