Sharif brothers’ model solutions

Nawaz Sharif helps lay the foundation stone of a flood affected woman’s house in Mithun Kot.

RAJANPUR/ MUZAFFARGARH: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Mian Nawaz Sharif reached Rajanpur on Monday, following his tour of flood zones in Muzaffargarh. The PML-N chief visited the flood hit Mithun Kot village and met flood victims in the district.

In Mithun Kot, Sharif helped lay the foundation stone of a flood affected woman’s house and also addressed a public gathering to discuss the proposal of a new model village to be constructed in the area. He said the devastation caused by the floods had been catastrophic but vowed that Mithun Kot would be rebuilt.  The PML-N chief had an old woman Bibi Fatima lay the foundation brick for the village and also donated Rs200,000 for the treatment of a man suffering from a bone disease.

“The new Mithun Kot model village will provide basic necessities for all its residents and we are hoping to build a stronger and better community environment,” Sharif said.

Nawaz Sharif said that arms licenses would be issued for the protection of the village and embankments would also be constructed to safeguard the residents.

In Muzaffargarh, Punjab Chief (CM) Minister Shahbaz Sharif announced that the Punjab government would start to provide Rs20,000 to every flood affected family within two days.

The CM addressed flood victims in the area and said that the inauguration of a model village would prove to be a new beginning for the flood victims of the village. “Thousands have lost their homes in the recent floods and the Punjab government will provide them with grants for the reconstruction of their homes,” he said.

Shahbaz also announced that the Punjab Government would be providing free of cost fertilisers and seeds to farmers with more than 25 acres of land in the flood zones for next years crop. “It will take time and effort to get back to where we were but we are determined and we are not giving up,” Shahbaz said.

Meanwhile, hundreds of flood victims protested against the allegedly unjust distribution of Watan cards and closure of a sasta tandoor in Muzaffargarh.

At Katchery Chowk locals addressed the protesters and also shouted slogans against the Punjab government for closing down sasta tandoors in such a time of crisis.

The flood victims said the lists of affected people had been prepared so that they could be awarded watan cards in Chadha Chandia, Sadha Wali and other villages. “The distribution is rigged, administrators are giving watan cards to people they know and blatantly ignoring the name or roll call on the list,” said Sadha Wali resident Tariq, adding that he had stood in line for a watan card for four days in a row. “I come and stand in line after my morning prayers and most of us return home without the card by the end of the day,” he said.

Villagers said that no survey had been conducted to determine who qualified for the cards. “They still have people who died over twenty years ago included in the lists,” said flood victim Ahmad.

In Leyyah a person was arrested for robbing flood victims by posing as the prime minister’s nephew. Multan’s Kashif Abbas Gilani told villagers that he was the prime minister’s nephew and he was asking people to submit applications for funds with him, he charged Rs200 per application.

Kashif earned thousands of rupees from flood victims in Muzaffargarh, Mongar, Shah Jamal, Busti Lothar and Bhakkar. Police officials arrested Kashif, his secretary Muhammad Aslam and driver Muhammad Afzal and seized 25 CNICs and cash from them.

Meanwhile, in Vehari, at head Islam River Sutlej water is rising and several villages were flooded on Sunday. After India released water in River Sutlej Vehari, Chistian, Mailsi, and Kahirpur Tomiwala are experiencing a low level flood and water levels have increased to 34,000 cusecs. Due to which several villages have been flooded and most houses have been destroyed. Hundreds of people protested against the irrigation department and blamed officials for not opening the gates of the river to protect the other side of the head Islam where the lands of jagirdars and landlords are situated.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 21^st, 2010.