Train victims to get compensation

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LAHORE:

Railways Minister Hanif Abbasi on Saturday announced compensation of Rs5.2 million for their families, along with railway jobs for their children.

He announced that railway police constables will now work in pay scale-7 and ASIs in scale-11, bringing their salaries and benefits in line with Punjab Police.

Abbasi said despite numerous challenges, the government is committed to making the Pakistan Railways profitable and efficient. He noted that he has only been in charge for 10 to 12 days, but has already been pushing for reforms.

Announcing the compensation package for the victims during a press conference in Lahore, Abbasi said: "The railway package we have announced is Rs5.2m each that we will give them (families of the victims) and we will try that if they (victims) have any children then we will get them continued in service [as railway employees]."

He noted that such a high number of suicide bombers was never seen before in Quetta, urging the entire nation to unite.

The minister accused Imran Khan's PTI of receiving billions of rupees from India to malign Pakistan Army.

Addressing a news conference during a visit to Pakistan Railways headquarters in Punjab's provincial capital, Abbasi, who belongs to the ruling PML-N, claimed that the "PTI brigade" and India spread a venomous propaganda against the armed forces in the wake of March 11 hijacking of a Peshawar bound train by terrorists in Balcohistan's Bolan district.

"While the nation is grieving over the Jaffar Express tragedy, a political party has used the same language as India," said Hanif Abbasi on Saturday.

"The PTI brigade and Indians have targeted the army. Billions of rupees are being given to the PTI brigade to launch such targeted attacks," he alleged.

According to the minister, those who flee and curse Pakistan are rewarded with millions "and even a house". "The very people who bark against Pakistan are the ones whom Pakistan has given recognition," he added.

Abbasi said PML-N President Nawaz Sharif faced jail multiple times but his party never cursed state institutions. He said there exists a certain group that for the sake of power talked about bombing Pakistan and even sided with the enemy.

The PML-N leader said Pakistan is the only nuclear power in the Muslim world and this fact was disconcerting for a number of forces. He said the country's enemies were also disturbed by the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project.