OIC appeals member countries to assist Pakistan

ISLAMABAD—Secretary General Organization of Islamic Conference Prof Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu in a message to President Pervez Musharraf Tuesday said the OIC fully shares Pakistan’s grief in this hour of immense trial following Saturday’s deadly earthquake and has appealed all member countries to extend relief assistance. “While we fully share your grief in this moment of immense trial for your great country, the OIC stands ready to contribute in any manner to overcome the catastrophic impact of this tragedy and in alleviating the sufferings of the affected victims,” he said.
The OIC Secretary General said he has already made an appeal to all OIC Member States to urgently extend all possible humanitarian assistance and support to the Government and people of Pakistan. The Secretariat is also in the process of expeditiously forwarding its modest contribution towards these relief efforts, he added. Conveying his profound and heartfelt condolences to the Government and the brotherly people of Pakistan over the devastating consequences of the severe earthquake that struck Islamabad and other parts of the country, he said: “Both me personally and all my colleagues at the OIC General Secretariat were appalled and saddened to learn about the magnitude of the destruction and the loss of innumerable precious lives and property.
“We all sincerely pray to Almighty Allah to shower his mercy and forgiveness on the innocent victims and grant speedy recovery to the injured”. He prayed to Allah Almighty to spare the people of Pakistan and of the entire Muslim World from the evils of all forms of natural disasters.—APP