COUNTRY SITUATION:
Pakistan
by Atty. Farooq Niazi
Farooq’ s
Diary
Letters
from Farooq Niazi sent after the 7.6 magnitude earthquake hit
Pakistan.
October 15, 2005
On 8 October at about 8:55 am, we were
completely devastated by an earthquake. My city, Muzaffarabad, is now a
city of death. I stand witness to the worst destruction. It was doomsday
for us. 67% of the population of my city is dead. Everything is razed
to the ground. We have lost a whole generation. We have lost
everything including our school, college and university students.
Nature has become very unkind to us.
Bad weather is adding to the death toll. It has started raining and
snowing. The affected area is about 20,000 sq. miles. Most of the area
is difficult to reach and the winter season is about to set in. The
death toll has reached 100,000 and is still increasing.
All hospitals have been destroyed. More
than four million people are homeless. My house, along with my office
is destroyed. Somehow, I feel lucky to have my close family safe. We
need international support to reorganize our lives. My wife was rescued
after five days but more than 150 girl students and teachers have died
in the school.
Thanks...
Farooq
Oct.18, 2005
Thank you for your email. I am at
present at Abbatabad, some 75 miles from Muzaffarabad. We have lost all
our infrastructure, and we have not been able to contact other members
of the organization.
There is no good news so far. Our
office is flattened to the ground. Our office at Bagh is also gone.
But we are now trying to establish a camp office at Abbatabad. We are
still in shock. The death toll is increasing, too. At present I have
been able to establish contact with Adeel. We have lost everything, but
we shall overcome. Aileen, situation is so sad that I cannot find words
to explain. Our schools, colleges and hostels have become graveyards.
We have lost 80% of our school and college generation. It is the
worst calamity in our history. I shall keep you informed. As of the
now, we need tents, warm clothes, stoves to provide some relief to the
families.
Thanks,
Farooq
You can contact me on Tel no
03018132432 and 03036964715
Oct. 21, 2005
Thank you for your e-mail. It is a
source of strength for me.
Still nature is angry with us. We
continue to experience quakes. I am at Abbatabad with my wife. She’s
recovering and my daughter too is feeling better.
I am still homeless. We have lost
everything. We are also now trying to establish a camp office at
Abbatabad. We have been able to establish contacts with three members.
However, we still have no news about the others. Each story is
horrible. But we will overcome.
Thanks,
Farooq
