Pervaiz Elahi calls for donors conference for IDPs

LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League-Q leader Ch Pervaiz Elahi has urged the government to call a world donors’ conference for the rehabilitation of internally displaced persons (IDPs) of Swat and devise a comprehensive relief policy to help them.

He was talking to the media after his meeting with the Ambassador of Norway, Robet Kevli, at his residence here on Wednesday. He requested the ambassador to show the same magnanimity for the Swat IDPs that his country had extended for the earthquake victims in 2005. Elahi called upon all political and religious parties to bury their differences and stand by the Pakistan Army. He said the Army would have to play a similar role for the rehabilitation of the IDPs as it did during the 2005 earthquake catastrophe.

“Ulema of all schools of thought will have to come forward to improve the image of Islam tarnished by Taliban in Swat. They also need to console the people for the loss of life and property in Swat,” he observed. Elahi said he, along with Ch Shujaat Hussain, would soon visit the affected areas in Swat and Malakand. The PML-Q has already started fund-raising for the IDPs, he said. The ambassador lauded Pakistan’s efforts in the war on terror and assured all logistic and financial help for the IDPs.