Call for joint Govt-Opp response to quake relief
Opposition calls off ‘Black Day’
By Zulfiqar Ahmad

ISLAMABAD—The Combined Opposition has called off the 12th October ‘Black Day’ call due to the powerful earthquake hit the country on Saturday.
The opposition had decided to protest in the parliament and outside of the parliament against government. The opposition members have now decided to take part in the relief activities instead of observing Black Day.
Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz Monday said the government and the opposition need to stand united during this hour of trial and work together to mitigate the sufferings of the people affected by the earthquake.
He was talking to Maulana Fazalur Rehman who called on him Monday evening to discuss the grave natural calamity that befell the country.
Prime Minister Aziz said the national tragedy required that all parties should set aside their political differences and jointly work to provide relief to the effectees.
The Prime Minister informed Maulana Fazalur Rehman about the extent of damage in Azad Kashmir and NWFP.
He also informed him of the measures and government’s strategy to reach out to the far flung areas for the rescue and later rehabilitation of the people.
Maulana Fazalur Rehman assured his full cooperation to supplement the government’s efforts to provide relief to the people.
Agencies add: President General Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz have appealed to the nation to offer special prayers on Friday next for speedy relief, recovery and rehabilitation of their earthquake-stricken countrymen.
They made this appeal during a meeting Monday that decided to set up a federal relief commission for coordinated efforts in the unprecedented largescale rescue and relief operations, launched in the wake of Pakistan’s worst earthquake that has claimed several thousand lives and caused destruction in Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Hazara division of NWFP.
The President and the Prime Minister also asked the people to pray for the departed souls and grant of courage and fortitude for the bereaved families to overcome the huge tragedy.
Meanwhile, responding urgently to the call of President Musharraf, people from cross-section of the society have come out with generous donations in kind and cash. Philanthropists and well-off people are contributing to President’s Relief Fund for earthquake victims.
Civil society organizations, volunteers and young men have been collecting assistance in the form of food, medicine and tents to transport to the devastated areas in Azad Kashmir and NWFP.
Exiled leader of Pakistan Muslim League (N), Muhammad Nawaz Sharif on Monday stressed upon the need of under taking extensive and full-fledged campaign for providing relief to the quake-hit affectees in Islamabad, NWFP and Azad Kashmir and set a target of providing Rs100 million worth of goods to them.
“The PML-N workers, setting aside their political activities should carry out the relief work for the tremor affectees”, said Muhammad Nawaz Sharif while talking to the PML-N Secretary General, Syed Zaigum Hussain Qadri on phone. Other Party leaders included, Chaudhry Abdul Ghafoor, Khawaja Imran Nazir and Ch Tanveir Nisar were also present on the occasion.
Nawaz Sharif said that his heart was very much moved with the mass scale natural disaster and expressed his wish to carry out the relief efforts by himself to the injured and other affected people.
Sympathizing with the affected people he said that he was with them at this time of grief and prayed to Allah Almighty to give courage to the bereaved families.
The PML-N leader asked the party representatives, workers to bring their best foot forwards and launch concerted efforts for the rehabilitation of the affectees.
He also asked them to set up relief camps across the country and hand over the relief goods to the afffectees forthwith.