http://www.hindustantimes.com/Minorities-denied-flood-relief-in-Pakistan/Article1-588673.aspx
Minorities denied flood relief in Pakistan
Imtiaz Ahmad, Hindustan Times
Karachi, August 18, 2010
First Published: 23:54 IST(18/8/2010)
Last Updated: 02:38 IST(19/8/2010)
Earlier this week, members of Pakistan's Ahmadiyya community, who were caught
up in the raging floods around the Central Punjab town of Muzaffargarh, were
not rescued from their homes because rescuers felt that Muslims must be given
priority. Ahmadiyyas are ostracized by Pakistan's mainstream
Muslim community who consider them to be non-believers. In Pak files
Pope Benedict XVI on Wednesday urged the international community to show
solidarity towards the victims of floods in Pakistan by providing "concrete
support"
Pakistan on Wednesday airlifted two British cabinet ministers away from
angry protesters after they visited an area ravaged by floods
Aid organisations and the UN itself have expressed alarm that the plight
of millions of Pakistanis has yet to strike a sufficiently sympathetic nerve
among donors with aid trickling in far more slowly than needed
1973, this community was officially declared a minority. Since then the
discrimination against them has been severe.
The Ahmadiyyas complained to the government that not only were their community
members not rescued but in some instances ejected from relief camps when their
identity was disclosed. This has been refuted by the provincial Punjab
government but eye witnesses have attested to this.
As the waters recede and people flock to relief camps and look for help,
Pakistan's power politics have come into play whereby chosen areas are being
helped at the expense of others which are being completely ignored. Hamir
Soomro, a landlord from Shikarpur, one of the most badly affected districts in
Sindh, says that his area is not receiving government help, which is instead
going to Khairpur, the constituency of the province's Chief Minister, Qaim Ali
Shah.
The UN says that the government suffers from a "image deficit" problem. "In
plain words, they don't trust the ability of the government to deliver," says
Mian Nawaz Sharif, opposition leader.
Earlier this week, Sharif met with Prime Minister Gilani and both agreed to the
formation of a "clean commission" - comprising people of integrity, to oversee
distribution of funds for for flood relief. The idea did not go down well with
President Zardari whose office has blocked the move on grounds that the
government is fully in control.
But the UN and donor agencies dont think so. They have pointed out that the
government has no relief plan and is also unable to make an estimate of what is
needed where. As a result, the situation has turned dire in many neglected or
inaccessible areas.
In Kohistan, , there are reports the five children died of starvation because
help had not arrived.
Members of the Sikh community, who arrived in Gurdwaras in Lahore also
complained of government apathy. They said members of their community were
abandoned in Khyber-Pakhtoonkhwa and had to arrange rescue for themselves.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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