Layyah tragedy: Shahbaz promises justice in poisoning deaths case

CM announces govt jobs for families who lost loved ones

LAHORE:

The government will take all steps to ensure that those responsible for the deaths of 30 people in Layyah are brought to justice, Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said on Monday.

He was addressing the families of 30 people who died after eating poisoned sweetmeats in Chak 105/ML, Layyah.

The CM expressed sorrow over the tragedy and offered fateha for the departed souls. The chief minister had earlier gone to the houses of the victims and expressed sorrow over the deaths. He also asked them about the details of the incident. He offered condolence to the head of the family whose 13 members had died.

“We are grieved over this tragedy. My sympathies as well as those of the Punjab government are with the bereaved families. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has also expressed his sorrow and grief over the deaths,” he said.

He said that the whole nation was shocked over the loss of 30 lives. “The death of 30 people due to poisoned sweetmeats is a tragedy. The prime minister has specially sent me to condole with the affected families. No effort will be spared for providing justice to the aggrieved persons,” he said.

The chief minister announced government jobs for members of the affected families. “The deceased cannot be brought back. We will do everything possible for their families. An inquiry is being conducted into the incident. I promise [you] that stern legal action will be taken against those found responsible for negligence,” he said.

The CM said that justice would be provided to the families. “Action will also be taken against those who had poisoned the sweetmeats. They will not be able to escape punishment,” he said.

The CM said that if negligence on part of the administration or in the treatment of the victims were proved, those responsible would not be spared. “The basic needs of the area will be met on a priority basis,” he said. The chief minister announced that all basic health centres located in Layyah district would be upgraded to district headquarters hospitals. “The roads and schools of the village will also be improved. The government will continue to extend maximum cooperation to the affected families,” he said.

He said that anyone found guilty in the light of the inquiry report would have to face stern accountability and exemplary punishment. “Those who have looked after the patients properly deserve appreciation,” he said.

Food Minister Bilal Yasin, MNA Sahibzada Faizul Hassan, MPA Chaudhry Ashfaq Ahmad, MPA Qaiser Abbas Khan Magsi, Parliamentary Home Secretary Mehr Ejaz Ahmed Uchlana, Malik Ahmad Ali Aulakh, Malik Abdul Shakoor Sawag, the Dera Ghazi Khan commissioner, the Layyah RPO, the Layyah DCO and the Layyah DPO were present.

School education

The chief minister said on Monday that the government was working for the development of school education. He was presiding over a meeting to review school teachers’ training.

“The teachers’ training is an important element of educational reforms roadmap as it is vital for quality education. School reforms programme is yielding positive results. Steps taken by the government are helping raise the standards of education in the province,” he said.

The CM said that education and health were the top priorities of the government. He said more resources would be provided for the development of these sectors.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 3^rd, 2016.