 Qazi Hussain Ahmad, the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal president, said on Tuesday the people devastated by the October 8 earthquake did not need aid raised by music concerts because concerts were âimmoralâ. Qazi also criticised the government for accepting aid from Israel, saying this was an âinsultâ to the affected people.
| I think the affected people are more concerned with groceries and burying their dead than with where the help is coming from. But I don't own a turban, so I could be wrong... |
He said General Pervez Musharraf should quit as both army chief and president to allow the nation to unite to rebuild.
| But he says that at least once a week, for whatever reason's handy... |
âThe nation is facing a tragedy due to the earthquake. At this moment, President Musharraf should leave his offices to let the nation be united against the challenge. If President Musharraf stepped down today, we are ready to cooperate with the whole parliament including Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and Shaukat Aziz,â Qazi told a news conference.
| "... as long as we can be in charge, of course." |
He accused President Musharraf of trying to divide people by summoning a meeting of the National Security Council to discuss relief efforts rather than the all parties conference the opposition had suggested.
| Presumably the NSC is designed for just such occasions. |
He said the NSC was a controversial body and it was unfair of the president to bring up every matter before the council when the opposition was against attending NSC meetings.
| In other words, Perv shouldn't use the body because Qazi doesn't want him to. |
Qazi opposed the establishment of âtent villagesâ in the quake-hit areas, saying that this would force the affected to migrate, which would dilute Kashmiri culture. He proposed the tents be set up in front of each victimâs house so that they did not have to leave their areas. |