Non-compliance: PHC orders arrest of additional chief secretary, Khyber DC

Officials had failed to pay Shuhada package to victims of airstrikes despite court orders

PESHAWAR: The high court on Thursday issued non-bailable arrest warrants for the additional chief secretary and the deputy commissioner of Khyber for failing to follow a court’s order and providing Shuhada Package to the families of Tirah airstrike victims.

A two-judge bench of the Peshawar High court (PHC), headed by Chief Justice Waqar Ahmad Seth, issued the order while hearing the writ petition filed by Aziz Khan and others, submitted through their lawyer Rahmanullah.

The petitioner told the court on December 31, 2012, their homes came under aerial attacks due to which 18 people lost their lives.

He told the court the families of the victims were given only Rs0.3 million each as compensation.

The money was turned down as being insufficient and the victims demanded they are paid the full sum promised under the Shuhada package.

With the government not complying with their demands, the families of the victims turned to the courts.

The high court, which accepted their petition in 2017, directed the district administration to ensure that the Shuhada Package is paid in full.

However, despite the repeated orders of the court, the district administration has not only refused to provide the families with the Shuhada package, but have also failed to appear before the court to explain their response to the court.

In view of this attitude of the respondents, an annoyed chief justice of the PHC and issued non-bailable warrants of arrest.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 20^th, 2018.