In dire straits: Rickshaw driver’s family demands financial assistance

House of Muhammad Jameel was destroyed in militant attack

PESHAWAR: The family of a rickshaw driver held a sit-in on Tuesday to press the government to help them reconstruct their house which was destroyed in a militant attack.

Muhammad Jameel – a rickshaw driver from Shabqadar, Charsadda – along with his wife, seven daughters and son held placards outside Peshawar Press Club in favour of their demands.

Their house was destroyed in an attack orchestrated by unidentified militants on November 14. As a result, the family lost their valuables, including items collected for their daughters’ dowry. Jameel and his family have urged the government to provide them financial assistance to rebuild their lives from scratch.

When home is lost

Speaking to journalists, Jameel said the attack took place when he and his family had gone to attend his niece’s wedding.

“During the ceremony, I was informed that my house had been destroyed in an explosion,” he said. “I don’t have any enemies and have no  communication whatsoever with militant organisations. My family is facing countless difficulties as we have no home to go to.”

According to Jameel, the police registered an FIR against the incident and are investigating the matter.“I am just a rickshaw driver,” he said. “I have to get my daughters married but am too poor to arrange their dowry all over again.”

According to Jameel, he and his wife had worked hard over the years to arrange their daughters’ dowry. “My wife used to stitch clothes for women in the village just so we could get extra money in the house,” he said. “Everything was destroyed in the explosion.”

Redress

Jameel said he had approached Arif Muhammadzai, the MPA of his constituency, to address his grievances.“He signed the application I filed against the incident,” he said. “However, little has been done in this regard. The Charsadda AC had issued orders to provide us with a tent but no one has given us one as yet.”

According to Jameel, his family has been forced to live under the open sky. “It gets cold at night and my children cannot bear it any longer,” he said.

Jameel appealed to the government to either provide them with a new house or financial support.

“We also want sewing machines so my family can resume stitching clothes for a living.” he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 25^th,  2015.