April 16 blast: Victim pins hope on incoming govt for promised compensation
The attack was aimed at ANP leaders, Iqbal was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Local residents and volunteers gather around a destroyed vehicle at the site of a suicide bomb attack at an election campaign rally in Peshawar on April 16, 2013. PHOTO: AFP
PESHAWAR:
A victim of April 16 blast, which targeted an Awami National Party (ANP) corner meeting, has yet to see a penny’s worth of compensation promised by the previous government. A suicide bomber blew himself up just as Ghulam Ahmad Bilour reached the venue in Yakatoot to address party supporters.
However, Javed Iqbal, 55, was not there to listen to any speeches; he had the misfortune of stepping out of his house at the wrong time and ended up a victim of the explosion. When the bomb exploded in the congested Peshawar neighbourhood, 17 people lost their lives; many, like Iqbal, were rendered disabled for the rest of their lives. He suffered from severe leg, abdomen and hand injuries.
Doctors at the Lady Reading Hospital (LRH) performed two major surgeries on the 55-year-old but failed to remove all the ball bearings which had pierced through Iqbal’s body. Doctors were successful in removing the ball bearing from his legs, preventing amputating his legs, but ball bearings still remain in his abdomen and hands. It is difficult to determine the progress of his recovery because he is unable to afford further treatment.
Iqbal’s house was also damaged beyond repair forcing the family to move to a rented accommodation.
“The government immediately announced Rs100,000 in compensation for the victims but not a penny has been given to us,” said Shabana Javed, Iqbal’s wife. She speaks on behalf of her husband as he is unable to talk due to the severity of his wounds.
He cries at night because of the pain, Shabana shares, the ball bearings are still in his body. “I can’t even buy pain killers to help him.”
“Our children are still traumatised by what happened that night,” the mother worries what transpired on April 16 makes for indelible images in her childrens’ mind.
In the moments following the incident, Shabana recalled thinking Iqbal would die as she saw blood gushing from his body. She was relieved when doctors informed her Iqbal would survive. Shabana feels fortunate, considering so many died.
Iqbal was a driver by profession. He was never interested in politics or in participating in any related activities. But as timings go, Iqbal picked the worst possible one to step out of his house that evening, says Shabana. Now Iqbal is helpless and cannot support his family.
Twenty-year-old Waqas is their eldest out of five children. He had to drop out of school to earn a living for his family.
“The injuries were so devastating, there was no chance of him being successfully cured,” shares Waqas. “Every day, we somehow have to arrange Rs2,000 to purchase medicines and other necessities for my dad.”
Waqas and his younger brother now work as labourers while their sister Palwasha, a first-year student, tutors to contribute to the family income.
The enterprising young man realises he could achieve more if he could start his own business; “but such work also needs money.”
“The government should help us recover from this tragedy,” Waqas adds, “They should help us cure our father.”
The family asks the incoming government to help victims support themselves. “My husband life’s has been destroyed but I don’t want my children to suffer and want them to pursue education,” worries Shabana.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 26th, 2013.
A victim of April 16 blast, which targeted an Awami National Party (ANP) corner meeting, has yet to see a penny’s worth of compensation promised by the previous government. A suicide bomber blew himself up just as Ghulam Ahmad Bilour reached the venue in Yakatoot to address party supporters.
However, Javed Iqbal, 55, was not there to listen to any speeches; he had the misfortune of stepping out of his house at the wrong time and ended up a victim of the explosion. When the bomb exploded in the congested Peshawar neighbourhood, 17 people lost their lives; many, like Iqbal, were rendered disabled for the rest of their lives. He suffered from severe leg, abdomen and hand injuries.
Doctors at the Lady Reading Hospital (LRH) performed two major surgeries on the 55-year-old but failed to remove all the ball bearings which had pierced through Iqbal’s body. Doctors were successful in removing the ball bearing from his legs, preventing amputating his legs, but ball bearings still remain in his abdomen and hands. It is difficult to determine the progress of his recovery because he is unable to afford further treatment.
Iqbal’s house was also damaged beyond repair forcing the family to move to a rented accommodation.
“The government immediately announced Rs100,000 in compensation for the victims but not a penny has been given to us,” said Shabana Javed, Iqbal’s wife. She speaks on behalf of her husband as he is unable to talk due to the severity of his wounds.
He cries at night because of the pain, Shabana shares, the ball bearings are still in his body. “I can’t even buy pain killers to help him.”
“Our children are still traumatised by what happened that night,” the mother worries what transpired on April 16 makes for indelible images in her childrens’ mind.
In the moments following the incident, Shabana recalled thinking Iqbal would die as she saw blood gushing from his body. She was relieved when doctors informed her Iqbal would survive. Shabana feels fortunate, considering so many died.
Iqbal was a driver by profession. He was never interested in politics or in participating in any related activities. But as timings go, Iqbal picked the worst possible one to step out of his house that evening, says Shabana. Now Iqbal is helpless and cannot support his family.
Twenty-year-old Waqas is their eldest out of five children. He had to drop out of school to earn a living for his family.
“The injuries were so devastating, there was no chance of him being successfully cured,” shares Waqas. “Every day, we somehow have to arrange Rs2,000 to purchase medicines and other necessities for my dad.”
Waqas and his younger brother now work as labourers while their sister Palwasha, a first-year student, tutors to contribute to the family income.
The enterprising young man realises he could achieve more if he could start his own business; “but such work also needs money.”
“The government should help us recover from this tragedy,” Waqas adds, “They should help us cure our father.”
The family asks the incoming government to help victims support themselves. “My husband life’s has been destroyed but I don’t want my children to suffer and want them to pursue education,” worries Shabana.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 26th, 2013.