Benazir Bhutto’s son opened a London donation point Saturday for victims of Pakistan’s deadly floods a public appearance that came amid criticism that his father, Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari, was in Britain when he should have been dealing with the one of worst disasters in decades.
Pakistani officials estimate that as many as 13 million people have been affected in the floods and some 1,500 have died. More rain is expected in the coming days as the bloated Kabul River surged into Pakistan's northwest.
In an interview with The Associated Press, Zardari defended his 5-day trip to Britain, saying Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gillani had been dealing with the situation. Prior to his British visit, Zardari was in France where he visited a family chateau and met with French President Nicolas Sarkozy.
Zardari, who did not accompany his son at Pakistan’s High Commission in London, was to address a political rally of his Pakistan People's Party in Birmingham later in the day before traveling to Syria. Nearly 10,000 people members of the party live in Europe, most of them in Britain.
Earlier in the week, many had speculated that Bilawal Bhutto Zardari the son of Zardari and slain former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto would address the rally and announce his intentions to formally enter Pakistani politics. The 21-year-old recently graduated from Oxford with a degree in history and politics.
His father said it was only a matter of time before his son carried on the family's political dynasty.
But Bhutto Zardari, who was educated mostly abroad and possesses the same striking good looks as his mother, said he would consider getting a law degree before following in his mother’s footsteps. Bhutto was assassinated at a political rally in late 2007. Her father and PPP founder was hanged in 1979.
“I ask everyone to do what you can to help the people of Pakistan,” he told reporters gathered at the High Commission before accepting donations from donors and groups.
“This is not a time to play politics. We need to do what is necessary to help our brothers and sisters in Pakistan.”
Analysts predict Zardari’s PPP which his son currently chairs will suffer during the next national elections in 2013 because of Zardari’s low approval ratings and the severe challenges currently facing the country.
Zardari traveled to Britain just days after British Prime Minister David Cameron accused Pakistan of exporting terror. The remarks caused a diplomatic row, in part because they were made during Cameron’s visit to India, Pakistan's nuclear rival.
The Pakistani president rejected the criticism, saying that it was terrorists who killed his wife and who were terrorizing his country. Some 2,500 Pakistani security officials have been killed in battles with militants over the years, and many more civilians have been killed in attacks.
Pakistan is one of Britain’s most important allies in fighting terrorism. Nearly 1 million people of Pakistani origin live in Britain, and Pakistani intelligence has been crucial in several terror investigations, including the 2005 suicide attacks that killed 52 London commuters and a 2006 trans-Atlantic airliner plot.
The ringleader of the 2005 suicide bombings in London and several others reportedly received terror training in Pakistan.
Zardari has headed a coalition government since unseating Pakistan's Gen. Pervez Musharraf. The ex-military leader was in power-sharing talks with Bhutto shortly before her assassination at a political rally in December 2007.
M WAQAR..... "A man's ethical behavior should be based effectually on sympathy, education, and social ties; no religious basis is necessary.Man would indeed be in a poor way if he had to be restrained by fear of punishment and hope of reward after death." --Albert Einstein !!! NEWS,ARTICLES,EDITORIALS,MUSIC... Ze chi pe mayeen yum da agha pukhtunistan de.....(Liberal,Progressive,Secular World.)''Secularism is not against religion; it is the message of humanity.'' تل ده وی پثتونستآن
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Rains hamper relief work in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
A senior military commander said on Friday that the worst flood in the country’s history had left 1,400 people dead in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Over 100,000 people are still stranded in the northern districts of the province and bad weather and heavy to moderate rains are hampering relief work.
According to official estimates, over 4.2 million people have been affected by rains and flood.
Talking to reporters, Peshawar GOC Maj-Gen Ghayyur Mahmood said that relief operation and rehabilitation work were in progress in different parts of the province, particularly in Malakand division where floods had washed away the entire infrastructure.
He said that the flood damaged 35 kilometres of roads in Swat and work was in progress to repair bridges and link roads. He said that all damaged bridges were likely to be restored in two weeks.
He said the US would provide 30 steel bridges and UK 66 that would help to restore communication in the hilly areas.
The Met office said that Cherat in Nowshera district received 80mm of rain in 12 hours. Peshawar and other parts of the province also received light to heavy rains.
Helicopter service remained suspended in Malakand because of inclement weather.
Seven people were killed and several houses destroyed in Dera Ismail Khan. Hill torrents caused devastations in Peharpur, Draban, Kulachi and Perawa tehsils of the district.
Flash floods washed away 40 houses in Chitral district.
Local authorities had issued timely warning and residents had vacated their homes due to which there was no human loss in the area.
Meanwhile, Provincial Information Minister Mian Iftikhar Hussain said that death toll had reached 919 and the number could rise.
He said that the Provincial Disaster Management Authority and other departments were compiling data about human losses and property destruction.
He said the floods had washed away 169 educational institutions, 38 health centres and 187 other government buildings. Besides, 307 drinking water supply schemes have been destroyed.
He said the Frontier Works Organisation, a subsidiary of the army, was carrying out a survey of damaged bridges and roads.The Saudi government has announced donations for flood-affected people and a cargo plane carrying eight tons of food and other items have landed at the Peshawar airport.
Over 100,000 people are still stranded in the northern districts of the province and bad weather and heavy to moderate rains are hampering relief work.
According to official estimates, over 4.2 million people have been affected by rains and flood.
Talking to reporters, Peshawar GOC Maj-Gen Ghayyur Mahmood said that relief operation and rehabilitation work were in progress in different parts of the province, particularly in Malakand division where floods had washed away the entire infrastructure.
He said that the flood damaged 35 kilometres of roads in Swat and work was in progress to repair bridges and link roads. He said that all damaged bridges were likely to be restored in two weeks.
He said the US would provide 30 steel bridges and UK 66 that would help to restore communication in the hilly areas.
The Met office said that Cherat in Nowshera district received 80mm of rain in 12 hours. Peshawar and other parts of the province also received light to heavy rains.
Helicopter service remained suspended in Malakand because of inclement weather.
Seven people were killed and several houses destroyed in Dera Ismail Khan. Hill torrents caused devastations in Peharpur, Draban, Kulachi and Perawa tehsils of the district.
Flash floods washed away 40 houses in Chitral district.
Local authorities had issued timely warning and residents had vacated their homes due to which there was no human loss in the area.
Meanwhile, Provincial Information Minister Mian Iftikhar Hussain said that death toll had reached 919 and the number could rise.
He said that the Provincial Disaster Management Authority and other departments were compiling data about human losses and property destruction.
He said the floods had washed away 169 educational institutions, 38 health centres and 187 other government buildings. Besides, 307 drinking water supply schemes have been destroyed.
He said the Frontier Works Organisation, a subsidiary of the army, was carrying out a survey of damaged bridges and roads.The Saudi government has announced donations for flood-affected people and a cargo plane carrying eight tons of food and other items have landed at the Peshawar airport.
Sindh on red alert for fresh floods
Districts in Sindh province were on high alert on Saturday for floods which have devastated other parts of the country.
At least 1,600 people have been killed by the flooding. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said 12 million people had been affected in two provinces, s figure that does not include, for the moment, Sindh.
Heavy rains were expected to lash areas already struck by the worst floods in 80 years.
Considerable damage was expected in mainly rural areas in Sindh after floodwaters roared down from the northwest and through the central agricultural heartland of Punjab, along a path at least 1,000 km (600 miles) long.
"At least four districts are on high alert as the flood wave prepares to enter Sindh," the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) said.
UN officials said more than half a million people had been evacuated in Sindh.
Flooding was also taking a toll over the border in the Indian held Kashmir, where rain was hampering rescue and relief efforts. Flash floods have already killed at least 113 people in the Himalayan region of Ladakh.
POPULAR ANGER
In Pakistan, The floods have stoked popular anger at absent Asif Ali Zardari, who went ahead with visits to Paris and London at the height of the disaster, which swallowed up entire villages.
Zardari rejected harsh criticism, telling the BBC's Newsnight programme that Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani was dealing with the crisis and keeping him posted on developments.
On Saturday, the president was to address Britain's Pakistani community after talks with Prime Minister David Cameron in which the two leaders agreed to do more to fight militancy.
Many Pakistanis were already critical of Zardari's leadership of a country.
Gilani, addressing the nation on Friday for the first time since the floods struck, described the loss of human life and infrastructure as "colossal" and appealed for international aid.
Food supplies are becoming a serious issue. In many areas, drinking water wells are also full of mud.
At least 1,600 people have been killed by the flooding. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said 12 million people had been affected in two provinces, s figure that does not include, for the moment, Sindh.
Heavy rains were expected to lash areas already struck by the worst floods in 80 years.
Considerable damage was expected in mainly rural areas in Sindh after floodwaters roared down from the northwest and through the central agricultural heartland of Punjab, along a path at least 1,000 km (600 miles) long.
"At least four districts are on high alert as the flood wave prepares to enter Sindh," the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) said.
UN officials said more than half a million people had been evacuated in Sindh.
Flooding was also taking a toll over the border in the Indian held Kashmir, where rain was hampering rescue and relief efforts. Flash floods have already killed at least 113 people in the Himalayan region of Ladakh.
POPULAR ANGER
In Pakistan, The floods have stoked popular anger at absent Asif Ali Zardari, who went ahead with visits to Paris and London at the height of the disaster, which swallowed up entire villages.
Zardari rejected harsh criticism, telling the BBC's Newsnight programme that Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani was dealing with the crisis and keeping him posted on developments.
On Saturday, the president was to address Britain's Pakistani community after talks with Prime Minister David Cameron in which the two leaders agreed to do more to fight militancy.
Many Pakistanis were already critical of Zardari's leadership of a country.
Gilani, addressing the nation on Friday for the first time since the floods struck, described the loss of human life and infrastructure as "colossal" and appealed for international aid.
Food supplies are becoming a serious issue. In many areas, drinking water wells are also full of mud.
Severe shortage of food items feared
PESHAWAR: A large part of agricultural land stretching over 71,000 acres land has been affected by the recent devastating floods in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, creating fear of drastic decline in production and ultimate severe shortage of food items in the already food-deficient province in the near future.
This was disclosed by speakers at a daylong seminar on 'Flood Situation in KP' organised under the auspices of National Humanitarian Network (NHN) and Network for Humanitarian Assistance (NHA) at press club on Friday.
The speakers said that there was a dire need for carrying out a broad-based damage assessment survey across the province, as the losses were massive, adding that the magnitude of the destruction could be gauged from the fact that it had been reported that the rehabilitation process might take a decade period.
They added: "As many as 79 people including 23 women and 56 children are still missing alone in nine union councils of Peshawar district where 280 cattle heads were reportedly washed away by flash floods."
The speakers also expressed concern over lack of coordination and mismanagement among the government institutions responsible for provision of relief to the flood-hit people.
They said that epidemics were breaking out in the affected areas where nothing had been done for disposing of the carcasses of animals, adding that reports had already indicated the spread of cholera and diarrhoea in various flood ravaged localities.
The speakers also called for provision of at least 10 helicopters, 50 boats, 500 tents and life jackets to cope with the situation in flood-hit vicinities of the district.
Rakhshanda Naz of Aurat Foundation called for provision of relief goods to minorities on priority basis.
The participants also called for allowing welfare organisations for carrying out relief activities in the calamity-hit areas and provision of protection to the affectees.
This was disclosed by speakers at a daylong seminar on 'Flood Situation in KP' organised under the auspices of National Humanitarian Network (NHN) and Network for Humanitarian Assistance (NHA) at press club on Friday.
The speakers said that there was a dire need for carrying out a broad-based damage assessment survey across the province, as the losses were massive, adding that the magnitude of the destruction could be gauged from the fact that it had been reported that the rehabilitation process might take a decade period.
They added: "As many as 79 people including 23 women and 56 children are still missing alone in nine union councils of Peshawar district where 280 cattle heads were reportedly washed away by flash floods."
The speakers also expressed concern over lack of coordination and mismanagement among the government institutions responsible for provision of relief to the flood-hit people.
They said that epidemics were breaking out in the affected areas where nothing had been done for disposing of the carcasses of animals, adding that reports had already indicated the spread of cholera and diarrhoea in various flood ravaged localities.
The speakers also called for provision of at least 10 helicopters, 50 boats, 500 tents and life jackets to cope with the situation in flood-hit vicinities of the district.
Rakhshanda Naz of Aurat Foundation called for provision of relief goods to minorities on priority basis.
The participants also called for allowing welfare organisations for carrying out relief activities in the calamity-hit areas and provision of protection to the affectees.
Flood-hit Shabara village one of the worst affected
CHARSADDA: Sadness was writ large on the faces of inhabitants of Shabara village in Charsadda district as rubble of mud-houses, destroyed crops and hundreds of livestock carcasses gave the picture of devastation and destruction caused by the recent floods.
Nine days after the floods, hundreds of rotting carcasses were lying in the fields and posing a serious threat to public health. The village, one of the worst affected in Charsadda, wore a deserted look and a few men were busy in removing mud from their homes.
“All the people have left the village and have shifted to nearby relief camps or to their relatives’ homes. We cannot bring our families back as hundreds of the dead animals are spread everywhere and we fear our children will contract diseases,” said Akhtar Ali, a villager in Shabara.
The stench of the carcasses was intolerable and it was difficult to stay there. The carcasses of goats, sheep, buffaloes, cows and dogs were lying all around waiting to be disposed off. The villagers have experienced the vagaries of nature earlier. “Every year we are faced with floods but the damage was not as severe as this time,” said Akhtar Ali who lost seven cattle in the floods. He said the disastrous flood had destroyed standing crops in the village, leaving farmers wondering how they would sustain in the months to come.
Pointing towards a carcass lying in mud, Fazal Ghafoor, an elderly man said: “I have lost eleven cattle including cow, buffaloes and sheep. I lost everything.”
“Our maize and sugarcane crops have been ruined. People have been left with nothing,” he said, adding that the authorities and the elected representatives did not pay a single visit to the village.
They were critical of their elected representatives from the ruling Awami National Party (ANP). They recalled the assistance provided to them by Pakistan People’s Party-Sherpao leader and a former member of the provincial assembly, Alamzeb Umarzai, who was recently assassinated.
“On the day of floods all the people were remembering Alamzeb who stood with us during previous floods and monitored the rescue and relief activities,” said another villager Asad.
Sher Ali, a social worker from the nearby Miangan village who had come to distribute rice among the villagers, said the people were in dire need of food and drinking water and they wanted the government to remove the carcasses.
Trekking through the muddy swamps barefooted, Hussain Shah along with his sons aged three and eight told this scribe that he had shifted to his relatives’ home as his home had been destroyed. “I have decided to shift from this village as I lost everything. I do not want to live here anymore,” he said.
Ali Hassan, a farmer, was busy removing mud from his home. His four brothers were also helping him in washing their daily use items. Pointing towards a refrigerator, he said: “Look at the mud on it. For the last three days we are trying to clean our home but still a lot needs to be done.” Showing the cracked walls of his rooms, he said how they could live in this house.
The villagers asked the government to provide them tents so that they could shift their families to the village and also make immediate arrangements for removal of carcasses from the village.
When contacted, Shakeel Bashir Umarzai, the provincial assembly member from the area, said he was aware of the situation and the provincial and the district governments were trying hard to help the affected people.
He said Shabara village was one of the worst affected, adding that he had distributed 180 tents in the village which certainly were not sufficient for its large population.
The lawmaker, belonging to the ruling ANP, said he had received 2,400 tents for his entire constituency and only Shabara village needed more than 2,000 tents. “We have discussed the disposal of the carcasses with the district coordination officer and officials of C&W Department and removal of the dead animals will start soon,” he said.
Nine days after the floods, hundreds of rotting carcasses were lying in the fields and posing a serious threat to public health. The village, one of the worst affected in Charsadda, wore a deserted look and a few men were busy in removing mud from their homes.
“All the people have left the village and have shifted to nearby relief camps or to their relatives’ homes. We cannot bring our families back as hundreds of the dead animals are spread everywhere and we fear our children will contract diseases,” said Akhtar Ali, a villager in Shabara.
The stench of the carcasses was intolerable and it was difficult to stay there. The carcasses of goats, sheep, buffaloes, cows and dogs were lying all around waiting to be disposed off. The villagers have experienced the vagaries of nature earlier. “Every year we are faced with floods but the damage was not as severe as this time,” said Akhtar Ali who lost seven cattle in the floods. He said the disastrous flood had destroyed standing crops in the village, leaving farmers wondering how they would sustain in the months to come.
Pointing towards a carcass lying in mud, Fazal Ghafoor, an elderly man said: “I have lost eleven cattle including cow, buffaloes and sheep. I lost everything.”
“Our maize and sugarcane crops have been ruined. People have been left with nothing,” he said, adding that the authorities and the elected representatives did not pay a single visit to the village.
They were critical of their elected representatives from the ruling Awami National Party (ANP). They recalled the assistance provided to them by Pakistan People’s Party-Sherpao leader and a former member of the provincial assembly, Alamzeb Umarzai, who was recently assassinated.
“On the day of floods all the people were remembering Alamzeb who stood with us during previous floods and monitored the rescue and relief activities,” said another villager Asad.
Sher Ali, a social worker from the nearby Miangan village who had come to distribute rice among the villagers, said the people were in dire need of food and drinking water and they wanted the government to remove the carcasses.
Trekking through the muddy swamps barefooted, Hussain Shah along with his sons aged three and eight told this scribe that he had shifted to his relatives’ home as his home had been destroyed. “I have decided to shift from this village as I lost everything. I do not want to live here anymore,” he said.
Ali Hassan, a farmer, was busy removing mud from his home. His four brothers were also helping him in washing their daily use items. Pointing towards a refrigerator, he said: “Look at the mud on it. For the last three days we are trying to clean our home but still a lot needs to be done.” Showing the cracked walls of his rooms, he said how they could live in this house.
The villagers asked the government to provide them tents so that they could shift their families to the village and also make immediate arrangements for removal of carcasses from the village.
When contacted, Shakeel Bashir Umarzai, the provincial assembly member from the area, said he was aware of the situation and the provincial and the district governments were trying hard to help the affected people.
He said Shabara village was one of the worst affected, adding that he had distributed 180 tents in the village which certainly were not sufficient for its large population.
The lawmaker, belonging to the ruling ANP, said he had received 2,400 tents for his entire constituency and only Shabara village needed more than 2,000 tents. “We have discussed the disposal of the carcasses with the district coordination officer and officials of C&W Department and removal of the dead animals will start soon,” he said.
Flood-hit Shabara village one of the worst affected
CHARSADDA: Sadness was writ large on the faces of inhabitants of Shabara village in Charsadda district as rubble of mud-houses, destroyed crops and hundreds of livestock carcasses gave the picture of devastation and destruction caused by the recent floods.
Nine days after the floods, hundreds of rotting carcasses were lying in the fields and posing a serious threat to public health. The village, one of the worst affected in Charsadda, wore a deserted look and a few men were busy in removing mud from their homes.
“All the people have left the village and have shifted to nearby relief camps or to their relatives’ homes. We cannot bring our families back as hundreds of the dead animals are spread everywhere and we fear our children will contract diseases,” said Akhtar Ali, a villager in Shabara.
The stench of the carcasses was intolerable and it was difficult to stay there. The carcasses of goats, sheep, buffaloes, cows and dogs were lying all around waiting to be disposed off. The villagers have experienced the vagaries of nature earlier. “Every year we are faced with floods but the damage was not as severe as this time,” said Akhtar Ali who lost seven cattle in the floods. He said the disastrous flood had destroyed standing crops in the village, leaving farmers wondering how they would sustain in the months to come.
Pointing towards a carcass lying in mud, Fazal Ghafoor, an elderly man said: “I have lost eleven cattle including cow, buffaloes and sheep. I lost everything.”
“Our maize and sugarcane crops have been ruined. People have been left with nothing,” he said, adding that the authorities and the elected representatives did not pay a single visit to the village.
They were critical of their elected representatives from the ruling Awami National Party (ANP). They recalled the assistance provided to them by Pakistan People’s Party-Sherpao leader and a former member of the provincial assembly, Alamzeb Umarzai, who was recently assassinated.
“On the day of floods all the people were remembering Alamzeb who stood with us during previous floods and monitored the rescue and relief activities,” said another villager Asad.
Sher Ali, a social worker from the nearby Miangan village who had come to distribute rice among the villagers, said the people were in dire need of food and drinking water and they wanted the government to remove the carcasses.
Trekking through the muddy swamps barefooted, Hussain Shah along with his sons aged three and eight told this scribe that he had shifted to his relatives’ home as his home had been destroyed. “I have decided to shift from this village as I lost everything. I do not want to live here anymore,” he said.
Ali Hassan, a farmer, was busy removing mud from his home. His four brothers were also helping him in washing their daily use items. Pointing towards a refrigerator, he said: “Look at the mud on it. For the last three days we are trying to clean our home but still a lot needs to be done.” Showing the cracked walls of his rooms, he said how they could live in this house.
The villagers asked the government to provide them tents so that they could shift their families to the village and also make immediate arrangements for removal of carcasses from the village.
When contacted, Shakeel Bashir Umarzai, the provincial assembly member from the area, said he was aware of the situation and the provincial and the district governments were trying hard to help the affected people.
He said Shabara village was one of the worst affected, adding that he had distributed 180 tents in the village which certainly were not sufficient for its large population.
The lawmaker, belonging to the ruling ANP, said he had received 2,400 tents for his entire constituency and only Shabara village needed more than 2,000 tents. “We have discussed the disposal of the carcasses with the district coordination officer and officials of C&W Department and removal of the dead animals will start soon,” he said.
Nine days after the floods, hundreds of rotting carcasses were lying in the fields and posing a serious threat to public health. The village, one of the worst affected in Charsadda, wore a deserted look and a few men were busy in removing mud from their homes.
“All the people have left the village and have shifted to nearby relief camps or to their relatives’ homes. We cannot bring our families back as hundreds of the dead animals are spread everywhere and we fear our children will contract diseases,” said Akhtar Ali, a villager in Shabara.
The stench of the carcasses was intolerable and it was difficult to stay there. The carcasses of goats, sheep, buffaloes, cows and dogs were lying all around waiting to be disposed off. The villagers have experienced the vagaries of nature earlier. “Every year we are faced with floods but the damage was not as severe as this time,” said Akhtar Ali who lost seven cattle in the floods. He said the disastrous flood had destroyed standing crops in the village, leaving farmers wondering how they would sustain in the months to come.
Pointing towards a carcass lying in mud, Fazal Ghafoor, an elderly man said: “I have lost eleven cattle including cow, buffaloes and sheep. I lost everything.”
“Our maize and sugarcane crops have been ruined. People have been left with nothing,” he said, adding that the authorities and the elected representatives did not pay a single visit to the village.
They were critical of their elected representatives from the ruling Awami National Party (ANP). They recalled the assistance provided to them by Pakistan People’s Party-Sherpao leader and a former member of the provincial assembly, Alamzeb Umarzai, who was recently assassinated.
“On the day of floods all the people were remembering Alamzeb who stood with us during previous floods and monitored the rescue and relief activities,” said another villager Asad.
Sher Ali, a social worker from the nearby Miangan village who had come to distribute rice among the villagers, said the people were in dire need of food and drinking water and they wanted the government to remove the carcasses.
Trekking through the muddy swamps barefooted, Hussain Shah along with his sons aged three and eight told this scribe that he had shifted to his relatives’ home as his home had been destroyed. “I have decided to shift from this village as I lost everything. I do not want to live here anymore,” he said.
Ali Hassan, a farmer, was busy removing mud from his home. His four brothers were also helping him in washing their daily use items. Pointing towards a refrigerator, he said: “Look at the mud on it. For the last three days we are trying to clean our home but still a lot needs to be done.” Showing the cracked walls of his rooms, he said how they could live in this house.
The villagers asked the government to provide them tents so that they could shift their families to the village and also make immediate arrangements for removal of carcasses from the village.
When contacted, Shakeel Bashir Umarzai, the provincial assembly member from the area, said he was aware of the situation and the provincial and the district governments were trying hard to help the affected people.
He said Shabara village was one of the worst affected, adding that he had distributed 180 tents in the village which certainly were not sufficient for its large population.
The lawmaker, belonging to the ruling ANP, said he had received 2,400 tents for his entire constituency and only Shabara village needed more than 2,000 tents. “We have discussed the disposal of the carcasses with the district coordination officer and officials of C&W Department and removal of the dead animals will start soon,” he said.
Zardari will return to a nation ready to vent anger
Critics of Pakistan's president intensified their attacks yesterday as his most high-profile appearance in Britain coincided with warnings that his country's unprecedented floods are set to worsen as fresh downpours inundate disaster areas.
As authorities increased their estimate of the number of people affected to 12 million, opponents warned that Asif Ali Zardari would be met by a wave of resentment on his return. He was accused of abandoning the suffering of the country to fly to Europe while rescuers struggled to cope with a disaster that has left 1,600 dead. Mr Zardari, meanwhile, has been seen meeting France's President Nicolas Sarkozy, flying to his family's chateau in Normandy, and meeting David Cameron at Chequers.
The disaster has overwhelmed rescue efforts, even as foreign aid has arrived, and has capped a grim week for the country. Scores were slain in targeted killings in Karachi and doubts have deepened about Mr Zardari's leadership.Aggrieved national pride was not likely to be salved by the two leaders' joint appearance yesterday. Mr Zardari opted to emphasise longstanding ties between Britain and Pakistan and play down the controversy over Mr Cameron's accusations that Pakistan is "looking both ways" when it comes to the export of terrorism. "It's a friendship which will never break, no matter what happens," Mr Zardari said, echoing Mr Cameron's remarks as he stood beside him.However, his comments that "storms will come and storms will go" are being attributed to an insensitive decision to understate the scale of the tragedy that is engulfing Pakistan.
"When he returns to Pakistan, there's going to be a river of resentment brimming over, just as high as his brimming smile," said Ayesha Tammy Haq, a columnist and talk show host.
"Asif Zardari is his own worst enemy," said Khwaja Asif, a leading opposition parliamentarian. "Whatever he's done in Europe is in poor taste. He should have [considered] the sensitivities of the people of Pakistan."
During Mr Zardari's absence, not only has the flood spread southwards – people have been evacuating the southern Sindh province for several days and further rains are expected there – but violence in Karachi, Pakistan's largest city and commercial hub, is the worst for a decade.
An unrelenting series of revenge killings continues days after they were sparked by the assassination of a Shia member of the provincial legislature. The government believes that the Sipah-e-Sahaba, an outlawed militant outfit notorious for its virulent sectarianism, was behind the murder. The Sipah-e-Sahaba has been working closely with the Pakistani Taliban in recent years.
Five more people were gunned down in Karachi yesterday, bringing the death toll to 81. Factories and markets had only just reopened after a four-day shutdown that resulted in an estimated loss of $234m (£147m), analysts said.
The Prime Minister, Yousaf Raza Gilani, flew to Karachi yesterday in an attempt to ease tensions among rival ethnic and political factions. Members of the ruling Pakistan People's Party, the majority-immigrant MQM, and the majority-Pashtun Awami National Party have died. All three parties happen to be coalition partners in the national government.
As authorities increased their estimate of the number of people affected to 12 million, opponents warned that Asif Ali Zardari would be met by a wave of resentment on his return. He was accused of abandoning the suffering of the country to fly to Europe while rescuers struggled to cope with a disaster that has left 1,600 dead. Mr Zardari, meanwhile, has been seen meeting France's President Nicolas Sarkozy, flying to his family's chateau in Normandy, and meeting David Cameron at Chequers.
The disaster has overwhelmed rescue efforts, even as foreign aid has arrived, and has capped a grim week for the country. Scores were slain in targeted killings in Karachi and doubts have deepened about Mr Zardari's leadership.Aggrieved national pride was not likely to be salved by the two leaders' joint appearance yesterday. Mr Zardari opted to emphasise longstanding ties between Britain and Pakistan and play down the controversy over Mr Cameron's accusations that Pakistan is "looking both ways" when it comes to the export of terrorism. "It's a friendship which will never break, no matter what happens," Mr Zardari said, echoing Mr Cameron's remarks as he stood beside him.However, his comments that "storms will come and storms will go" are being attributed to an insensitive decision to understate the scale of the tragedy that is engulfing Pakistan.
"When he returns to Pakistan, there's going to be a river of resentment brimming over, just as high as his brimming smile," said Ayesha Tammy Haq, a columnist and talk show host.
"Asif Zardari is his own worst enemy," said Khwaja Asif, a leading opposition parliamentarian. "Whatever he's done in Europe is in poor taste. He should have [considered] the sensitivities of the people of Pakistan."
During Mr Zardari's absence, not only has the flood spread southwards – people have been evacuating the southern Sindh province for several days and further rains are expected there – but violence in Karachi, Pakistan's largest city and commercial hub, is the worst for a decade.
An unrelenting series of revenge killings continues days after they were sparked by the assassination of a Shia member of the provincial legislature. The government believes that the Sipah-e-Sahaba, an outlawed militant outfit notorious for its virulent sectarianism, was behind the murder. The Sipah-e-Sahaba has been working closely with the Pakistani Taliban in recent years.
Five more people were gunned down in Karachi yesterday, bringing the death toll to 81. Factories and markets had only just reopened after a four-day shutdown that resulted in an estimated loss of $234m (£147m), analysts said.
The Prime Minister, Yousaf Raza Gilani, flew to Karachi yesterday in an attempt to ease tensions among rival ethnic and political factions. Members of the ruling Pakistan People's Party, the majority-immigrant MQM, and the majority-Pashtun Awami National Party have died. All three parties happen to be coalition partners in the national government.
Pakistanis desperate to escape flood areas
Pakistanis desperate to get out of flooded villages threw themselves at helicopters on Saturday as more heavy rain was expected to intensify both suffering and anger with the government.
President Asif Ali Zardari may have made the biggest political mistake of his career by leaving for Paris and London during the worst floods in 80 years.
More than 1,600 people have been killed and 12 million affected. Pakistan's agriculture-based economy, heavily dependent on foreign aid, has suffered a major blow.
Heavy rains are expected to lash the country in the next day, especially flood-affected areas, raising the prospect that more houses and crops will be swept away.
In the town of Muzaffargarh, near where rivers bloated with rain from as far away as Afghanistan and India merge with the Indus to flow south to the sea, army helicopters dropped packets of rice to people who had moved to higher ground to a cemetery.
Some latched on to helicopter skids as the aircraft took off. One elderly man fought his way inside one of them. He looked down and wept.
Districts in southern Sindh province were on high alert on Saturday as the water suged down the Indus river basin.
The floods have roared down from the north to the agricultural heartland of Punjab to Sindh along a trail more than 1,000 km (620 miles) long. Considerable damage was expected in mainly rural areas in Sindh.
At least four districts in Sindh were on high alert, said the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. U.N. officials said more than half a million people had been evacuated in Sindh, where those in low-lying areas near the Indus are most vulnerable.
Flooding was also taking a toll over the border in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir, where rain was hampering rescue and relief efforts. Flash floods have killed at least 113 people in the Himalayan region of Ladakh.
Zardari rejected harsh criticism over his decision to leave, telling the BBC that Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani was dealing with the crisis and keeping him posted on developments.
On Saturday, the president was to address Britain's Pakistani community after talks with Prime Minister David Cameron in which the two leaders agreed to do more to fight Islamist militancy.
NO ARMY TAKEOVER EXPECTED
Many Pakistanis were already critical of Zardari's leadership of a country where militants still pose a security threat despite offensives, poverty is widespread and corruption is rampant.
Although Zardari this year handed most of his powers to Gilani, he still wields influence, and his departure to Europe as parts of the country were submerged eroded more faith in the government.
The military, with which Zardari has had differences, has ruled Pakistan for more than half of its history. It has spearheaded relief efforts, reinforcing the view that civilian governments cannot handle major crises.
But analysts do not expect the army to make a grab for power.
It would rather play a behind the scenes role while the government takes the heat for the country's failures. The military also remains too preoccupied with Taliban insurgents to orchestrate a takeover.
Key ally Washington would not want to see an unstable Pakistan as it leans on the country to help its campaign against Taliban militants in neighbouring Afghanistan.
Gilani, addressing the nation on Friday for the first time since the floods struck, described the loss of human life and infrastructure as "colossal" and appealed for international aid.
Food supplies are becoming a serious issue. In many areas, drinking water wells are also full of mud.
"Our houses have been fully submerged. I kept putting my kid's toys in higher places in my house to protect them from water," said Rana Abdul Razzak, an engineer at a power station where about 100 flood victims had taken refuge on a roof.
"But I lost everything. I cannot tell you how bad it was to see those toys floating in the water."
President Asif Ali Zardari may have made the biggest political mistake of his career by leaving for Paris and London during the worst floods in 80 years.
More than 1,600 people have been killed and 12 million affected. Pakistan's agriculture-based economy, heavily dependent on foreign aid, has suffered a major blow.
Heavy rains are expected to lash the country in the next day, especially flood-affected areas, raising the prospect that more houses and crops will be swept away.
In the town of Muzaffargarh, near where rivers bloated with rain from as far away as Afghanistan and India merge with the Indus to flow south to the sea, army helicopters dropped packets of rice to people who had moved to higher ground to a cemetery.
Some latched on to helicopter skids as the aircraft took off. One elderly man fought his way inside one of them. He looked down and wept.
Districts in southern Sindh province were on high alert on Saturday as the water suged down the Indus river basin.
The floods have roared down from the north to the agricultural heartland of Punjab to Sindh along a trail more than 1,000 km (620 miles) long. Considerable damage was expected in mainly rural areas in Sindh.
At least four districts in Sindh were on high alert, said the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. U.N. officials said more than half a million people had been evacuated in Sindh, where those in low-lying areas near the Indus are most vulnerable.
Flooding was also taking a toll over the border in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir, where rain was hampering rescue and relief efforts. Flash floods have killed at least 113 people in the Himalayan region of Ladakh.
Zardari rejected harsh criticism over his decision to leave, telling the BBC that Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani was dealing with the crisis and keeping him posted on developments.
On Saturday, the president was to address Britain's Pakistani community after talks with Prime Minister David Cameron in which the two leaders agreed to do more to fight Islamist militancy.
NO ARMY TAKEOVER EXPECTED
Many Pakistanis were already critical of Zardari's leadership of a country where militants still pose a security threat despite offensives, poverty is widespread and corruption is rampant.
Although Zardari this year handed most of his powers to Gilani, he still wields influence, and his departure to Europe as parts of the country were submerged eroded more faith in the government.
The military, with which Zardari has had differences, has ruled Pakistan for more than half of its history. It has spearheaded relief efforts, reinforcing the view that civilian governments cannot handle major crises.
But analysts do not expect the army to make a grab for power.
It would rather play a behind the scenes role while the government takes the heat for the country's failures. The military also remains too preoccupied with Taliban insurgents to orchestrate a takeover.
Key ally Washington would not want to see an unstable Pakistan as it leans on the country to help its campaign against Taliban militants in neighbouring Afghanistan.
Gilani, addressing the nation on Friday for the first time since the floods struck, described the loss of human life and infrastructure as "colossal" and appealed for international aid.
Food supplies are becoming a serious issue. In many areas, drinking water wells are also full of mud.
"Our houses have been fully submerged. I kept putting my kid's toys in higher places in my house to protect them from water," said Rana Abdul Razzak, an engineer at a power station where about 100 flood victims had taken refuge on a roof.
"But I lost everything. I cannot tell you how bad it was to see those toys floating in the water."
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