PML-Q to defy ban on IDPs’ entry into Sindh, Punjab: Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi

ISLAMABAD: The PML-Q on Thursday announced to defy the ban on the entry of the internally displaced persons (IDPs) into the Punjab.

“The restriction of the Punjab government on the movement of the IDPs in the Punjab is illegal and would not be accepted,” said Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, central leader of the PML-Q, while addressing a press conference here on Thursday.

He was flanked by party Secretary General Mushahid Hussain Sayed, Engineer Amir Muqam, Ghulam Sarwar Khan and other leaders of the PML-Q. Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi said rather than providing relief to the IDPs, the Punjab government has directed all the SHOs in the province not to allow the entry of the IDPs into the Punjab. “This act has exposed the double face of the provincial government of the Punjab,” he added.

He said the IDPs had sacrificed their hearths and homes for the safety of the people and stability of the country. “We stand by our brothers and sisters from Swat and Malakand and will make all out efforts to provide them relief,” he added.

He warned that his party would not allow the provincial government to stop the IDPs’ entry into the Punjab. “We will establish a relief camp at Attock to cater to the needs of 5,000 families,” he announced.

He also appealed to all the district Nazims of the Punjab to send relief goods to IDPs.He said the PML-Q had so far distributed relief goods to the IDPs worth about Rs 20 million and the relief work was still continuing.

Elahi said it was the PML-Q that came forward to serve the IDPs despite security threats. Speaking on the occasion, Engineer Amir Muqam asked the government to formulate a comprehensive strategy for the relief and rehabilitation of the IDPs. “It is time to win the hearts of people rather than taking political mileage out of their distress,” he added.

He suggested to the government that rather than keeping the IDPs into the relief camps, they should be lodged in public buildings. He said the funds that were being taken in the name of the IDPs should be utilised for their welfare.

Secretary General Mushahid Hussain said Pervaiz Elahi proved that whether he was in government or out of it he always stood with the people of Pakistan.He condemned as ‘unfortunate’ the resistance shown by the Punjab and Sindh governments towards the entry of the IDPs, saying that it was tantamount to dividing the nation. “All the IDPs are Pakistanis and they can go wherever they want to go,” he said.

He said the PML has been actively supporting the IDPs and it has also established a Mobile Medical Camp for the IDPs and party leaders Amir Muqam and Mushtaq Ghani were working vigorously to assist the IDPs.

Mushahid Hussain said his party had distributed relief goods worth Rs 15 million among the IDPs of Swat and Malakand Division while on the other hand the government was adopting “bureaucratic attitude” towards the IDPs.

Later, the party leaders distributed 10,000 fans, 10,000 water coolers, and 10,000 packets of relief goods including atta, ghee, sugar, pulses and other edible items among the IDPs from Swat and other parts of Malakand Division.