In protest against the government's failure to provide protection to the relief activists of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), Party Founder Leader Altaf Hussain on Wednesday announced winding up all Khidmat-e-Khalq Foundation relief camps in the earthquake-hit areas of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).
Addressing a telephonic news conference, Altaf said they could not continue relief operations as their workers are being targeted by Jamaat-i-Islami.
The announcement has come just a day after MQM has threatened to stop relief activities due to possible bloodshed with the religio-political party.
Altaf said they have apprised Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz of the whole situation, but he even did not provide any firm assurance to provide security to the MQM workers in the calamity-hit areas.
He said it was complete failure of the government that militant groups despite active presence of Pakistan Army are targeting relief activists.
He said Jamaat-i-Islami activists were continuously harassing MQM workers soon after their relief teams arrived to rescue survivors of the catastrophic earthquake.
Appreciating the role of Khidmat-e-Khalq Foundation, he claimed that their workers continued relief activities and reached in far-flung areas that were even inaccessible for army as well.
He alleged that Jamaat-i-Islami workers shot at their activists and the local administration have also failed to provide them any security.
When asked, Altaf said, the decision to resume relief operations in the quake-hit areas would be taken in the Rabita Committee if armed forces assured them safety of the workers.
He said the party was not willing to pull out its workers, but circumstances have been created to abandon their incomplete mission.
He asked the government to force Jamaat-i-Islami to limit their activities for relief and let MQM do its job in the present crisis.
To a question regarding his return to Pakistan, Altaf said the party would make the final decision at an appropriate time. He said he was monitoring the relief operation from London and his party workers, MNAs and MPAs were doing a commendable job.
Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal and Muttahida Qaumi Movement had levelled serious allegations against each other in the National Assembly on Tuesday over targeting relief activists in Muzaffarabad.