Bid for

By Rebecca Fraser
AN ENDEAVOUR Hills man has returned to earthquakeravaged Pakistan in a desperate bid to find his sister and her family alive.
Naveed Khan, 44, left for Islamabad on Sunday after receiving news that the 10storey apartment block where his sister, her pilot husband, and three teenage children lived had collapsed.
Mr Khan’s wife Samina said her husband had been shocked and devastated by news of the earthquake that measured 7.6 on the Richter scale and is believed to have killed as many as 40,000 people.
The centre of the earthquake hit northern Pakistan and the border regions with India to the east and Afghanistan to the west on Saturday Australian time causing landslides and flattening whole villages.
Rescuers have struggled against blocked roads, rain and freezing temperatures.
The conditions have also restricted the supply of food and tents to the devastated region.
Mrs Khan said her husband was clinging to hope that his sister Nellum Fajjud, who lived in the penthouse apartment with husband Sajjad, sons Hammad and Sunny and daughter Kinza, would be found alive.
“It was very shocking, very shocking news,” Mrs Khan said.
“We are very confused by what we have heard but we are still hoping that they will be found.
“They have found people alive so we are still holding on for news,” she said.
Mrs Khan said rescuers had said that everyone in the apartment building had died but no bodies had been recovered.
“They (the rescuers) showed photos and said these people are dead and that the bodies were badly trapped and they could not pull them out.
“So we will still not be 100 per cent sure until the bodies are found.
“We just have to wait,” she said.
Mrs Khan said the apartment building where her husband’s sister lived was in a wealthy part of Islamabad and the family had only moved into the top floor a year ago.
She and her family moved to Australia 14 years ago but it was hard being away from their families in times of crisis.
“We have been in contact with my brotherinlaw, sisterinlaw and motherinlaw since the earthquake and we always keep in touch.
“All of them (family) are still over there and we are here.
“We went over in January but it is very hard and I wish I could be there for the family,” she said.
Mrs Khan said her family had already experienced many horrible things since the earthquake but were still holding out hope.
“Things are very bad over there.
“There are dead bodies that don’t have heads and hands and legs.
“This is the fourth day (Tuesday) since it happened and the smell coming from the dead is very bad.
“My family, my motherinlaw is sitting on the road waiting for news and won’t leave.
“Everyone is also fasting for Ramadan so they cannot eat.
“We just hope that we get some good news,” she said.
The father of four was set to arrive in Pakistan at 4pm on Tuesday and when the News contacted Mrs Khan yesterday (Wednesday) she said her husband was still searching and no bodies had been found.