During a hearing on December 20, 2012, the court observed that since the army chief admitted the death of civilians was a ‘mistake’, the government was bound to pay blood money. PHOTO: FILE
PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Tuesday directed the federal government to pay an additional Rs400,000 each to the legal heirs of those killed during aerial bombardment in Tirah valley, Khyber Agency.
About 67 tribesmen were killed and more than 80 injured when Pakistan Air Force jets intending to target militant hideouts accidentally bombed civilians in Seravela area of the valley on April 10, 2010.
During a hearing on December 20, 2012, the court observed that since the army chief admitted the death of civilians was a ‘mistake’, the government was bound to pay blood money.
Iqbal Durrani, counsel for the political administration in Khyber Agency, informed a PHC division bench on Tuesday that families of all 67 people killed have been given Rs600,000 each in monetary compensation. Durrani claimed the court’s order of providing more money could not be implemented in the tribal areas.
Deputy Attorney General Iqbal Mohmand and Wing Commander Muhammad Irfan requested the court to change the title ‘blood money’ with ‘compensation’ because ‘blood money’ would give the impression that locals had been intentionally targeted.
They also said federal government officials were concerned over providing ‘blood money’ to legal heirs of the victims because it was an error committed by the pilot which caused the deaths.
Hearing the petition filed by Qabil Khan, the bench observed they believed the incident was a mistake, but since it is the state’s responsibility to protect the life and property of citizens, a reasonable compensatory amount must be provided.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 15th, 2013.
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