The central leader of Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) Syed Munawar Hassan has stressed the need of immediate move for joint session of the parliament saying "Joint session of the Parliament should be summoned with out any further delay during which a Committee of Parliamentarians should be formed to co-ordinate and monitor the relief operation for October 8, earthquake hit areas".

"The joint session should also empower Prime Minister to lead operation instead of President", Munawar Hassan said while addressing a press conference here on Wednesday.

He was of the view that it was the need of hour to speed up the relief operation as there are thousand people still under rubble and the government should make early efforts to bring them out.

He demanded that the government should barrow approximately 150 Choppers from the friendly countries to evacuate the dead bodies from the wreckage.

Munawar urged the people to enhance the pace of donations as 150 truckload of essential commodities per day is needed even now in the devastated areas.

He criticised the government for handing over all the operation to Army. He was of view that beside Army other institutions and organisations should be mobilised for co-ordinated relief task.

"Philanthropists and Welfare Organisations also played their role, but co-ordinated work between government and other functionaries is required to mitigate the suffering of the affected people", Munawar Hassan said adding that it is the matter of great concern that government could not update international community about the great loss suffered by the nation.

The MMA leader flayed the government that no harmony was seen in the assistance, in spite of 18 days had gone after calamity, "Army has a large number of tents but thousands of people are still shelter-less", he said.

He said that about 8,500 workers are busy in the relief operations in the shaken areas of AJK and Hazara along with good organisational infra structure. "If government need our help then I offer the services of all the workers for support", he added.

He said that it is strange that Jews organisations are being allowed to come Pakistan but al Qaeda is not accepted by the government.

Munawar Hassan demanded that immediate withdrawal of army from Wana at this critical juncture and President and his companions should pray to Allah for forgiveness.

He urged the people to come forward in the relief work and bestow more and more donations for the rehabilitation of the victims.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2005