Relief and rehabilitation: Draft bill on terror compensation handed to court

District committees to determine compensation within 15 days of an attack.

ISLAMABAD:

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa’s Advocate General Latif Yousafzai on Thursday submitted a draft of the Civilian Victims of Terrorism (Relief and Rehabilitation) Act 2014 in the top court.

The draft sets out an “institutionalised response to the hardships faced by civilian victims of terrorist attacks and their families” with reference to the attack on the All Saints Church in Peshawar in September 2013.

According to a copy of the proposed draft available with The Express Tribune, a civilian victim will be entitled to a minimum grant specified in the schedule for the harm caused to his body or physical assets by an act of terror. The government shall establish a fund, known as the ‘civilian victims’ fund’ for timely payment of grants, it said. The federal and provincial governments, donor agencies, philanthropists or any other groups may contribute to the fund, it added.

Additionally, the K-P government will constitute committees at the district level and each committee shall consist of a deputy commissioner of the relevant district as he will head the committee as the principal officer. Other committee members will include the district police officer, district health officer and any other officials specified by the government.

Within 15 days of a terrorist act, the committee’s principal officer is required to communicate the details of the act and any victims to the government. Within seven days, the government shall then transfer the requisite compensatory amount to an account which may be operated by the principal officer. Following the committee’s approval, the principal officer is required to make the payment to the victim within three days.

A civilian victim may file an application to the committee claiming compensation and the committee is bound to give a decision within 15 days, the draft stipulates. The decision may be challenged before the commissioner of the division.

The draft adds that the government must submit an annual report of victims and payments made to the K-P Assembly within three months of the close of the financial year.

The draft outlines compensation in the following manner: Rs1,000,000  will be provided in case of death, while Rs500,000 will be paid for ‘grievous injuries’ while ‘substantial injuries’ will receive Rs100,000. Additionally, up to Rs500,000 can be paid for the destruction of a ‘dwelling unit’ or home, while the destruction of a shop, kiosk or business establishment will be compensated by up Rs500,000 or Rs100,000. The loss of vehicles or livestock will also be compensated.

Since September 11, 2001, more than 30,000 civilians have been killed in terrorist attacks or armed conflicts in Pakistan, while thousands have been left severely injured or disabled.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 22^nd, 2014.