In the light of special instructions of Shaykh-ul-Islam Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri, Minhaj-ul-Quran Women League launched relief operations at a wider scale. Secretary General of Women League convened a meeting of working council of MWL and worked out a course of action through consultation.

Field Visits

MWL kicked off its operations on August 8, with field visits to motivate sisters for fund collection and establishment of relief camps.

Three days visit (from August 8 to August 10)

The central team of Minhaj-ul-Quran Women League visited different cities from August 8 to August 10. The cities visited included Muridka and Gujrawala on August 8, Gujrat and Jehlum on August 9 and Rawalpindi and Islamabad on August 10. The purpose of these visits was to convey the course of action for the help of the flood victims and motivate them to work even harder for this sacred cause. Shaykh-ul-Islam’s recorded address on the subject of “Spending in the way of Allah” and documentary of ‘Aagosh’ were also shown during these programmes.

Giving special briefing during these visits, central Secretary General Sumaira Rafaqat said that every ‘Rafique’ of MQI should pay Rs. 5000 as his share for the maintenance of helpless children. She said that MWL would stand with its brothers to help the flood victims and would leave no stone unturned in this regard. She said that our suffering sisters, brothers and children were banking on us for support at this hour of need, and if we did not do our duty today, history would never forgive us. All sub-chapters assured her of full support and cooperation. They expressed the resolve that they would achieve the targets for the rehabilitation of the flood victims. The programmes ended on Dua for early rehabilitation of the flood affectees.

August 15, 2010

Central Deputy Secretary General Sajida Sadiq visited Sambrial on August 15, 2010 in connection with the flood relief campaign. She gave a special briefing to the local organization for fund collection and establishment of relief camps. A video speech of Shaykh-ul-Islam on the subject of “Spending in the Way of Allah” and introductory documentary were also shown to the audience on the occasion.

August 16, 2010

The next destination of the leaders of MWL was Ali Pur Chatta. Sumaria Rafaqat Advocate gave special briefing in respect of fund collection and establishment of relief camps. A large number of women were also present on the occasion in addition to those affiliated with MWL. Talking to the people, Secretary General of MWL said that the Pakistani nation is confronted with a crisis of grave nature at this point in history. Those who have suffered the worst ever tragedy in their lives have a right on us and our resources. It is our religious and national duty to come to their rescue. She urged the participants to establish an example of human sacrifice. She also told the sisters that Shaykh-ul-Islam has declared to accommodate 500 orphan children from the flood affected areas. Rs. 80,000 were collected for help of flood affectees on this occasion.

Telephonic contacts

All those areas, which the MWL team could not visit due to shortage of time, were divided into five groups and a five member team was established to make telephonic contacts. The team members informed the local chapters of their respective responsibility about the course of action, targets and follow-up procedures on daily basis.

Relief activities of MWL after cancellation of Itikaf

When Shaykh-ul-Islam Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri declared the cancellation of Itikaf City 2010 on August 27, a practice being followed by Minhaj-ul-Quran International for last 20 years, in view of the flood havoc and the resultant displacement of over 20 million people, Minhaj-ul-Quran Women League, in compliance with the commands of its eminent leader, mapped out a comprehensive course of action for efficient working.

MWL called a meeting of all of its chapters of Lahore for the best utilization of ten days of Itikaf besides discussion on the ways and means to achieve the results in an efficient manner. The meeting was attended by town and union council organizations and senior sisters of MWL. The briefing of Shaykh-ul-Islam at the Majlis-e-Shura was shown again in addition to documentaries on Agosh and relief activities of MWF. Talking to the participants, Secretary General of MWL explained the importance of ‘Relief Itikaf’. She said that every one of us should consider ourselves to be on duty during this time. All local chapters were given targets and fund collection books were distributed among them. The programme ended on Dua.

Our Itikaf: Rehabilitation of flood victims

When Shaykh-ul-Islam Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri declared the cancellation of Itikaf City 2010, the mass spiritual training activity being conducted by Minhaj-ul-Quran International for last 20 years, in view of the calamitous flood wreaking displacement of over 20 million people, Minhaj-ul-Quran Women League, complying with the commands of Shaykh-ul-Islam, launched a flood relief campaign forthwith. In his address to the Majlis-e-Shura meeting, Shaykh-ul-Islam declared to accommodate 500 children in the Orphan Care Home (Aagosh) and provide for 20, 000. Given the enormity of the challenge, MWL has established different sub-committees to systematically streamline the working and raise the necessary funds. It has started door to door visits and set up flood relief camps in the country. Following committees were constituted:

Central Committee :

Chairperson: Sumaira Rafaqat
Secretary: Sajida Sadiq

Fund Collection Committee :

Head: Sumaira Rafaqat
Secretary: Sidra Karamat

Relief camps committee :

Head: Ayesha Shabbir
Secretary: Irshad Iqbal

Media Committee :

Head: Maryam Hafeez
Secretary: Sadaf Iqbal

Follow-up Committee :

Head: Sajida Sadiq
Secretary: Sadaf Iqbal

Contact Committee :

Head Group 1: Sumaria Rafaqat
Head Group 2: Sajida Sadiq
Head Group 3: Fatima Sajjad
Head Group 4: Sidra Karamat
Head Group 5: Sadaf Iqbal

Central Relief Committee :

Head: Aneela Doager
Secretary: Saima Batool

September 1, 2010

]In the light of instructions of Shaykh-ul-Islam Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri, the central office holders of Minhaj-ul-Quran Women League visited three towns on August 31 in this regard. The delegation, which was led by Ms Sumaira Rafaqat Advocate, Secretary General of MWL, consisted of Ayesha Shabbir, Sidra Karamat, and Sadaf Iqbal. During the visit to Shalimar Town, Ms Sumaira Rafaqat held a detailed discussion with the office holders of MWL about the targets and the ways to achieve them. In the second visit of Nashtir town, Ms Sidra Karamat, Ms Irshad Iqbal, and Ms Khudija Fatima held a meeting with the office holders and finalized the strategy to accomplish the fixed tasks.

The central office holders of MWL paid a third visit to the Cantonment Town after breaking fast on the same day. The delegation consisted of Ms Sumaira Rafaqat, Sajid Sadiq and Ms Afnan Babar. Ms Sumaira Rafaqat passed on the instructions of Shaykh-ul-Islam to the workers and leaders of MWL and discussed with them the strategy to achieve the targets. Speaking on the occasion, she said that MWL would leave no stone unturned to comply with the commands of their beloved leader. She said that the rehabilitation of the flood victims is a test case for the nation and Minhaj-ul-Quran Women League would do everything possible to make this happen under the umbrella of Minhaj Welfare Foundation. The delegation also visited Ravi Town A, Aziz Bhatti Town and Wagha Town on the same day.

September 7, 2010

The central team of MWL along with Lahore chapter visited different relief camps established in different areas of Lahore namely Iqbal Town, Ravi Town and Cant town. The relief goods collected at these camps were handed over to the MWL’s central collection centre on September 7.

September 8, 2010

The relief goods collected by sub-branches of MWL outside Lahore were dispatched to the affected areas with the cooperation of Minhaj Welfare Foundation. The sisters of MWL packed the goods collected from different areas of Lahore. Ms Ayesha Shabbir, Ms Irshad Iqbal, Ms Rehana Bokhari, Ms Saadia Arshad, Ms Fozia Arshad, Ms Saba Maqsood, Ms Qurtaulain Fiza, Ms Rukhsana Qadri, Ms Yasmeen Shamim, Ms Ayesha Qadri, Ms Iffat Qadri, Ms Ayesha Kayani, Ms Noshaba Kayani, Ms Razaf Kayani, Ms Sajida Wali, Ms Zaitoon, Ms Madeeha Ilyas, Ms Sana Hafeez and Ms Ayesha Imtiaz extended special cooperation during the campaign.

MWL celebrated Eid with flood victims housed in Minhaj Tent Settlements

The central leaders of MWL also spent the entire day of Eid with the flood victims on the instructions of Shaykh-ul-Islam Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri. A main delegation of central team of MWL, and Lahore teams left Lahore on 3 a.m. from the central secretariat on September 10 and reached the Minhaj Tent Settlement in Noshahra at 11 a.m. MWL distributed relief goods among the people there, which consisted of clothes, water, beds, eating stuff, utensils, juices, bangles for female, mehndi, sweets and Eidi.

Briefing the media on the occasion, Sumaira Rafaqat Advocate said that we have to spend our Eid with the flood victims on the direction of Shaykh-ul-Islam Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri. She said that MWL had distributed relief goods of Rs. 0.5 million on the occasion of Eid, while relief goods worth lacs of rupees were rushed to the flood affected areas by the branches of MWL directly.

The delegation then went to different tents and met the residents. They asked them about their problems. The residents of Minhaj Tent Settlement expressed their complete satisfaction over the arrangements in the settlement. They said that they faced no problem there. However, they looked forward to going back to their homes.

The delegation left for Lahore at 4 pm after spending the entire day in the two settlements and distribution of all relief goods.