Minorities reprove their role as Pakistanis
APMA extending relief to quake-hit areas
By Uzma Zafar

ISLAMABAD—Minorities from all over the country, have extended their deepest condolences, sorrow and support to the victims of 8th October earthquake disaster, while initiating a wide-scale aid campaign for the same. During this campaign, efforts are on for establishment of a tent village equipped with all necessities of life to ensure continuous supply of heavy relief items worth various tons. The campaign started under the platform of All Pakistan Minorities Alliance; APMA, is being personally supervised by the alliance's chairman; Shahbaz Bhatti. The leader has appealed to all sensitive hearts and well-off individuals belonging to various walks of life, to come forward and contribute generously for the victims of the great tragedy.
The countrywide campaign generated by APMA, for the earthquake victims, has been getting huge support from volunteer minorities all around. As par details of the efforts extended by the alliance, right after the earthquake on 8th October, 20 trucks carrying relief items were sent from Punjab, off to Mansehra, Balakot and Garhi Habibullah in NWFP and Muzaffarabad and Bagh in AJK. On Wednesday, 19th October, a caravan of 10 more trucks carrying relief items, were sent to affected areas at AJK, from Karachi, by APMA. On Thursday, 20th October, a caravan consisting of 8 truckloads of relief goods, headed by alliance chairman; Shehbaz Bhatti, set off from Peshawar, to provide relief to various affected areas of NWFP.
Medical camps have also been set up at Muzaffarrabad and Balakot while a medical team has been deputed at the tent village set up at the local area, as well. APMA has also asked for welfare doctors and paramedic staff from abroad and made certain contacts in this regard and thus, doctors and paramedical staff from outside the country are expected soon. A tent village comprising of 500 tents, on the other hand, is being established at Balakot and the effort of their setting up has begun since yesterday. At the said tent village, continuous medical aid and along medicinal drugs and supply of foodstuff, would be made available along other daily use items. The tents would be able to sustain extreme temperatures and carry more resting space than normal.
Moreover, on Eid day, APMA Chairman, workers and members of the Parliament, would be with the earthquake victims and would spend their Eid with them. Chairman APMA has further urged all churches, Christian organizations and well-off Christian individuals, to open their hearts and generously contribute for earthquake affectees in this hour of need and extend their complete support in this regard.
The victims of earthquake were not all Muslims but individuals of various nationalities, belonging to various faiths, sects, creeds, colours, factions, walks and talks of life. However, this gesture of support and understanding of APMA has where touched the hearts of the masses at large, there it has reminded us all too that whoever we are, whatever might be our religious faith and whatever believes we might follow, we are all Pakistanis. Minorities' reproving their role as Pakistanis, has further strengthened the harmony of Muslims and Christians that exist in the country.