Left behind: Flood victims protest poor relief response

Say many families have not been included in compensation recipient’s list

FAISALABAD:

Hundreds of flood-hit families of Chenab Nabar, Chiniot and Athara Hazari on Saturday staged a demonstration to protest perceived unfairness over distribution of compensation and relief goods.

Villagers from Chenab Nagar and Chiniot gathered at Jhang-Sargodha Road and blocked it for traffic.

Maqbool Hussain, one of the protesters from Kot Ameer Shah, told newsmen that revenue officials had not included many deserving people in the compensation list.

He said thousands of residents of Kot Ameer Shah, Shah Sukha and Asimabad had been missed.

The protesters chanted slogans against the government and tore down advertisement flexes along Sargodha Road.

Some of them also hit portraits of government functionaries with shoes and sticks and demanded action against those had deprived them of relief.

On receipt of information, a heavy police contingent reached the scene and negotiated with them.

After several hours, the villagers dispersed having been assured that their complaints would be taken to higher authorities.

Meanwhile, flood-hit families of Tehsil Athara Hazari and its peripheral localities also staged a demonstration at Jhang Road and blocked it for traffic.

Muhammad Khalid, one of the protesters, told newsmen that Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif had visited Athara Hazari several times and assured residents that financial assistance and relief goods would be provided to them soon.

He said a survey of losses had been conducted by the government and 14,989 families registered for the relief drive.

“When it was time to distribute compensation, only 4,800 families were compensated,” he said.

He said the government had misled villagers and had failed to provide relief.

The protesters chanted slogans against the government and demanded action against those who had failed to provide relief to villagers.

Athara Hazari Assistant Commissioner Syed Ahsan Raza Shah and Saddar Jhang Deputy Superintendent (DSP) Tahir Nawaz Khichi met the protesters and assured them that their problems would be resolved soon.

The protesters then dispersed and Jhang Road was re-opened for traffic.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 5^th, 2014.