ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Thursday directed the provincial governments of Balochistan and Punjab to deposit the compensation amount for the families of six labourers, who were killed by terrorists in Kharan district of Balochistan on May 3, with the Okara district and sessions judge.
A two-member apex court bench comprising Justice Umar Ata Bandial and Justice Ijazul Ahsan also directed the Okara district and sessions judge to distribute the amount of compensation, after its receipt, among the families of the deceased labourers.
The court ordered Okara police to provide protection to the families of deceased labourers, which were facing threats by a local landlord of Okara. During the hearing, family members of the deceased labourers stated that they buried their loved ones peacefully, despite they were killed in acts of terrorism.
They stated that they were being threatened. On court’s insistence, they stated that they were being threatened by a local landlord of Okara.
They requested the court to order provision of protection to them. They contended that they still were not paid any sort of compensation by any quarter and the statements being given by some quarters before the court about the payment of compensation were false. “We will ensure the payment of compensation by our own,” Justice Umar Ata Bandial assured the victim families. A lawyer for Ufone cellular company told the court that families of the each deceased labourers will be provided Rs 1 million as compensation.
H stated that each family of all the deceased labourers will also be provided Rs 20, 000 per month for three years as regular monthly financial assistance. The Punjab additional advocate general told the court that the provincial government would pay Rs 1 million to each family of the deceased labourers. A representative of the Balochistan government also submitted a compensation plan in the court stating that it would give Rs 1 million to each family of the deceased labourers and Rs 0.5 million to the families of the injured person.
The court then directed the Balochistan and Punjab governments to deposit the amount of compensation with the Okara district and sessions judge, who will distribute the amount to the victims’ families. Meanwhile, the court adjourned the hearing till first week of June.
As many as six labourers belonging to Okara were gunned down by unidentified motorcyclists, besides severely injuring another on May 3, when they were installing a tower of Ufone cellular company. Chief justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar had taken suo motu notice of the incident on May 5.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court on Thursday directed the federal government to pay remaining amount which it had committed for the compensation to the families of those killed and injured in the Quetta Church blast. A two-member bench comprising Justice Umar Ata Bandial and Justice Ijazul Ahsan ordered this while hearing a suo moto case, on the application of Samuel Payra, chairman Implementation of Minorities Rights (IMR). At least nine members of the Christian community were killed and 57 others wounded when two suicide bombers struck a church in Quetta on December 11, 2017 where worshippers were attending services ahead of Christmas. During the hearing Samuel Payra stated that the federal government had announced Rs 1 million for the family of each killed, Rs 0.5 million for those injured critically and Rs 0.3 million for the other injured. He said federal government had provided Rs 7.2 million less to the Church blast victims.
He stated that apart from the federal government, the Balochistan government had also promised to provide funds for the families of those killed and injured in the terrorist attack on Church in Quetta, however, the promise could not be materialised as yet.
He stated that the provincial government had also promised to provide funds for the maintenance of Church, after it was announced by the federal government for the Church’s maintenance, adding the funds were still not released. Justice Ijazul Ahsan inquired from the Quetta deputy commissioner (DC) that why it took so long to recompense the heirs of the victims. The DC said that the medico-lego report (MLR) was received late.
Justice Ijazl Ahsan then questioned why the MLR was prepared so late. The court then directed the DC to submit reasons for filing late the MLP and the affidavits regarding the payment of the compensation to the aggrieved families. Later, the court adjourned the hearing until first week of June.
Published in Daily Times, May 18th 2018.
