MUZAFFARABAD: People poured onto the streets of Forward Kahuta, the headquarters of the disadvantaged Haveli district of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), on Saturday to protest against the alleged delay and discrimination in preparation of lists of the people affected by the flash floods and torrential rains in their area for compensation.
The demonstration was held on the call of Chaudhry Mohammad Aziz, senior vice president of opposition Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) in AJK, who was Member Legislative Assembly (MLA) and minister in the previous two governments of Muslim Conference.
Located along the Line of Control (LoC), Haveli district, it may be recalled, had suffered worst losses in flash floods and torrential rains that hit the whole of AJK in September. According to official record, 21 people were killed in the district and more than 60,000 affected due to complete damage to 1,202 houses and 35 shops. As many as 7,486 houses were partial damaged.
Loss of crops was estimated at Rs80 million. In mid October, the AJK government had declared the district ‘calamity hit area’.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif visited Forward Kahuta on September 11 and according to Mr Aziz had directed the administration to prepare and dispatch details of losses and affected persons to the federal government within 15 days.
However, he alleged that the “incompetent and corrupt PPP government in Muzaffarabad had deliberately delayed this task due to some ill-intentions”.
“The government has included only ruling Peoples Party workers in the lists of affected persons whereas all those belonging to opposition parties have been left in the lurch,” he alleged.
Mr Aziz pointed out that harsh winter season had set off and hundreds of people were still living without a proper roof. They had not been provided a single tent.
“The landless and homeless people will be in great trouble as soon as snow begins to fall by the end of this month,” he said.
Mr Aziz expressed gratitude to PM Sharif for announcing construction of Haveli-Rawalakot Expressway, but alleged that some PPP leaders were conspiring to alter its actual route, which would reduce the distance between Forward Kahuta and Rawalakot to 61 kilometres from current 140 kilometres.
“If the route of Expressway is changed, then our natural pre-partition route via occupied Poonch should be opened, or else we will stage a peaceful march with white flags towards the LoC,” he said.
He regretted that minister for electricity Faisal Rathore, who is MLA from Haveli, had failed to ensure the rights of his constituency.
“If you are in the government merely for salary and other privileges, we can provide you the same from our voluntary contributions, but we request you not to compromise on the legitimate rights of your area,” he said, addressing the minister.
When contacted by Dawn, Haveli deputy commissioner Raja Mohammad Irshad said there was no question of likes and dislikes in preparation of lists of the affected persons.
“The survey has been done and it is in the process of verification and validation in accordance with the guidelines worked out at the national level,” he said.
http://www.dawn.com/news/1141953/protest-against-discrimination-in-preparation-of-list-of-flood-affected-people
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