2008 earthquake: IHC seeks response from Balochistan CM, chief secretary

Petitioner claims government, Balochistan CM, chief secretary had committed contempt of court.


Obaid Abbasi October 22, 2012

ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday sought comments from Chief Minister Balochistan Nawab Aslam Raisani and Chief Secretary in response to a contempt petition for not determining losses of 187 Baloch families during the 2008 earthquake.

CJ Iqbal Hameedur Rehman directed Nawab Aslam Raisani, Chief Secretary Balochistan Babar Yaqoob Fateh Muhammad, Chairman National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Dr Zafar Qadir to submit their reply in two weeks in response to a contempt petition for not compliance the court orders.

On March, 14 the bench had given the federal government six months to determine losses of 187 Baloch families who had lost their homes and valuables during the 2008 earthquake and to compensate them in accordance with official policy. The court had also directed the government to conduct a fresh survey to determine the losses of the families.

The petitioner Syed Saifur Rehman filed a contempt application seeking the criminal action against the respondents for not following the court orders. During the course of hearing the counsel of the petitioner Ali Murad Baloch maintained that despite the passage of six months the respondents had not complied with the court order.

He requested the court to take criminal action against the respondents, including the CM Balochistan.

After the hearing CJ passed the order.

The petition had been filed by one of the affected victims of earthquake seeking the compensation after the earthquake. He was of the view authorities concerned had deprived them of financial aid announced for affected families in the province.

Rehman had alleged that 187 affected families of village including Khanozai District Pishin had not been paid compensation despite the fact specific funds were reserved for the affected people. He had claimed that after the earthquake Rs2 billion was distributed among the other affected people in the province while the government had received over Rs2.62 billion aid.

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