Quake survivors vent fury over projects delay

Fifth anniversary of 2005 earthquake observed amid protests against delay in reconstruction of the affected areas.

MUZAFFARABAD/ABBOTTABAD: The fifth anniversary of the 2005 earthquake was observed on Friday amid protests by quake survivors against delay in reconstruction of urban areas in Azad Jammu & Kashmir.

Protestors carrying banners and placards paraded through the streets in Muzaffarabad, Bagh and Rawalakot cities to vent their fury against the delay in the rebuilding of development projects designed for the three cities.

They shouted slogans against the Earthquake Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Authority (Erra) and the State Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Agency (Serra), holding them responsible for their misery.

In Muzaffarabad, traders observed a shutter-down strike against the delay in the construction of Muzaffarabad city development projects while people also staged protests for similar reason. Muzaffarabad was devastated in the October 2005 temblor.

Protest demonstrations were also held in Rawalakot and Bagh against the delay in reconstruction.

The marking of the fifth anniversary began with special prayers offered in mosques, followed by the blowing of sirens at 8:52 am - the same time the quake had struck AJK and K-P.

A wreath of flowers was laid at the memorial of Shuhada at the University.

People thronged to graveyards to offer prayers for their relatives killed in the quake. Special prayers were also offered for the deceased after the Jumma prayers at mosques.

Dozens left disabled in the quake’s aftermath also staged a protest in Muzaffarabad against the alleged apathy by the government towards their fate.

Prime Minister Azad Jammu and Kahsmir, Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan inaugurated recently constructed schools and laid the foundation stones of eight urban city development projects in Muzaffarabad, Bagh and Rawalakot to mark the fifth anniversary of the tragedy.

Addressing the ceremony, he called for early completion of the reconstruction projects.

“We want to step up the reconstruction process in the stricken areas for which I had a meeting with Prime Minister Gilani on Wednesday who expressed keen interest in the reconstruction of AJK’s earthquake-battered areas,” he said.

He stressed the need for offering incentives to contactors for the early completion of projects and directed the introduction of a two-shift work on the projects.

Prime Minister Khan, Chairman Erra Altaf Muhammad Saleem and Saudi ambassador to Pakistan visited the earthquake-ravaged districts of Bagh and Rawalakot where they inaugurated and laid the foundation of several reconstruction projects funded by Saudi Arabia and other donors.

Meanwhile, Commissioner Hazara Division Sahibzada Muhammad Anees directed the National Highways Authority (NHA) and district administration Mansehra to make immediate alternative arrangements for the clearance of Mansehra-Jalkhad Road, which was blocked due to landslides near Malkandi in Kaghan valley.

He directed construction of an alternative bridge and link road for the smooth running of traffic.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 9^th, 2010.