World should help Pak generously: Shujaat

LAHORE Brian D Hunt, an American diplomat, whose recent meeting with MQM leader Altaf Hussain in London was followed by a spate of statements by the self-exiled leader about the need for a revolution and action against corrupt politicians, called on PML-Q President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi and Chaudhry Moonis Elahi here on Monday. The destruction caused by the floods and some 'other issues came under discussion at the meeting, says a Press release. Shujaat told the US diplomat that Pakistan did not have enough resources for the rehabilitation work, thus the world community in general and US in particular, should help Pakistan generously. He said this was the best time for the US to win hearts and minds of the Pakistani people. The US assistance at this hour of need would allay the misgiving in the minds of the Pakistani people, he added. The US diplomat agreed with the opinion of the PML-Q leader. Meanwhile, PML-Q Secretary General Mushahid Husain Syed has called for the establishment of a judicial commission under the chairmanship of Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry to expose and punish those among the rulers who diverted floodwaters to save their own lands and orchards and sank the poor. In a statement, he said, flood was a natural calamity that turned into a wrath because of the ineptness of the rulers. He said the change of government had become unavoidable because of the incapability of the present setup. PML-Q President Chaudhry Shujaat Husain was critical of the governments performance and said at a time people were facing floods, rulers were nowhere to seen. He said no concrete policy had been framed for the rehabilitation of the flood victims. He said the rulers had failed to honour their commitments with regard to cash assistance to the affectees. Shujaat, who remained prime minister for less than two months during the Musharraf era, said that the insensitivity of the rulers had come to light during these days. Comparing the performance of the PML-Q government at the time of 2005 earthquake, he said that administration had enabled the victims to stand on their feet in just six months.

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