MANSEHRA: The residents of Balakot, which had been flattened in the October 8, 2005 earthquake, have asked the federal government to scrap the Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority (Erra) for failing to address the problems of the survivors. On the 10th anniversary of the earthquake on Thursday, a large number of people gathered at the mass graves of 86 students who were buried alive under the rubble of their school building. Fateha was offered for the departed souls. The traders observed complete shutdown to commemorate the day when more than 30,000 people had died in Balakot alone. The people also observed two-minute silence to pay homage to the departed souls, and later staged protest to highlight their plight. The protesters, holding banners and placards, demanded the Army Chief General Raheel Sharif to come forward to help them overcome their miseries. District Nazim Said Ghulam, Naib Nazim Ghulam Murtaza, leaders of political parties Babar Saleem Swati, Shafaat Ali, Tariq Sherazi and Tehsil Nazim Balakot Rustam Khan led the protestors. Speaking on the occasion, Said Ghulam said the people were still living in makeshift shelters. “The Mansehra district government, with the assistance of federal Minister Sardar Mohammad Yousuf, would take up the issue of New Balakot city with the prime minister. I hope this core issue would be resolved soon,” he said. Shafaat Ali said that the Erra had failed to address issues faced by the survivors despite the passage of 10 years after the tragedy. “The federal government should scrap Erra without any further delay and its funds should be transferred to the Provincial Earthquake Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Authority so that issues like new Balakot city could be addressed,” he stressed. Babar Saleem Swati said the federal government should pay heed to the problems and demands of the 2005 earthquake affectees, otherwise people would have no option but to stage a sit-in outside the Prime Minister’s House. Meanwhile, special prayers were arranged at Battagram for the victims of the deadly 2005 earthquake in which more than 70,000 people were killed and over 100,000 were injured in Hazara division and Azad Kashmir. The Quran Khwani was attended by a good number of people, Battagram District Nazim Attaur Rahman and senior officials of the district administration. The district authorities announced registration of volunteers under its newly launched “Battagram Zalmay” programme. According to Deputy Commissioner Zariful Maani, the online registration of volunteers has already started. He said a list of volunteers whose services could be utilised in the time of natural disaster was being compiled and their work would be coordinated with the offices of civil defense and disaster management.
