Rebuilding lives: Govt ordered to form compensation policy for damaged property

PHC sets 15-day deadline to chalk out clear and comprehensive guidelines.

PESHAWAR:

The Peshawar High Court (PHC) directed the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) government to form a comprehensive policy for compensation of property damaged in terrorism-related incidents in settled areas of K-P within 15 days.

A two-member division bench comprising PHC Chief Justice Dost Muhammad Khan and Justice Asadullah Khan Chamkani issued the directives while hearing a case pertaining to property damaged during sectarian clashes in Hangu a few years ago.

Advocate Khalid Tanveer Rohaila told the bench his client Shaukat Hussain owned two shops and a house which were set on fire during sectarian clashes in Hangu for which Hussain claimed compensation.

“The district government estimated the damages to the three structures at around Rs5.2 million and sent a summary to the provincial government for payment of compensation, however, the amount has not been released so far because there is no clear policy in this regard,” said Rohaila.

Justice Khan remarked compensation is paid from taxes which the people of K-P pay regularly. “The provincial government has compensated several people whose vehicles were damaged in the Pearl Continental Hotel blast in 2009 despite the fact that the owners had also collected insurance,” he added.

The chief justice termed it discriminatory practice, saying a select few were compensated while many remained unpaid, which shows the government does not have a clear policy on the issue.

After hearing the lawyer’s arguments, the PHC bench ordered the K-P government to form a clear and comprehensive policy within 15 days to reimburse people whose property had been damaged in terrorism-related incidents.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 15^th, 2013.