KARACHI:
Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf has directed the Sindh government to take action against the ‘elements’ involved in violence in Karachi during Friday’s riots.
During a meeting at the CM House before distributing cheques among the heirs of the Baldia fire victims, the premier said that Pakistan was the only Muslim country which observed Ishq-e-Rasool (pbuh) Day but added that some elements wanted to create a law and order situation to defame the government. He also asked the chief minister to submit a detailed report about the incidents of violence to him .
Cheque distribution
Prime Minister Ashraf and Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah distributed compensation cheques among the heirs of those killed and injured in the Baldia Town factory fire.
The inferno killed around 258 and injured hundreds of other workers in the factory. During the ceremony held at the CM House on Saturday, the prime minister distributed cheques of Rs0.4 million each for the deceased and Rs 0.1 million each for those injured.
The chief minister also handed out cheques of Rs 0.3 million each for those who lost their lives and Rs50,000 each for the injured.
Prime Minister Ashraf also directed the Ministry of Labour and Manpower to give Rs500, 000 each to heirs of the deceased.
The prime minister also announced that the government would provide jobs to the victims’ families.
Earlier, real estate tycoon Malik Riaz of Bahria Town also donated Rs 0.2 million each for the deceased. The cheques were distributed among their heirs last week at the Governor House by MNA Faryal Talpur and Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad Khan.
The total financial support so far given to the victims’ families amounted to Rs 0.9 million each.
Sindh Chief Minister Shah said that the government of Sindh has ordered an investigation into the fire incident. Four committees have been formed to probe the matter, and their findings would be presented to prime minister as well as the victim families.
Government to approach UN, OIC
At the occasion, the prime minister said that the government of Pakistan would approach the United Nations to draft a law to ban hate speech.
He said the government would also take up the issue with the OIC for a strategy in this regard.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 23rd, 2012.
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Looks like children are enjoying. We celebrate diwali instead. It channels this energy more constructively.