Every Pakhtun determined to fight militancy: CM Hoti

PESHAWAR (Agencies) - Chief Minister NWFP Ameer Haider Khan Hoti on Monday distributed Rs27.7million compensation cheques among the heirs and injured of the various bomb blasts that rocked the provincial capital in the recent past, amid declaration that every Pukhtoon man and woman was determined to fight for the survival of their country. In all 82 people were affected by the bomb blasts at Judicial Complex, Sessions Court, Badabair, Pishta Kharra, Soekarno Square, PIA Building and Peshawar Press Club. Rs300,000 each were given to the heirs of martyrs and Rs100, 000 each offered to the injured. The District Coordination Officer Peshawar in his report informed that 330 people were martyred and over 400 got injured in 26 different terrorism incidents in Peshawar district during 2009. The victims of the bomb blasts occurred before the Khyber Road Blast were compensated earlier and today the remaining were given compensation amount. The cases of the injured presently under treatment in CMH and other private hospitals would be disposed of shortly. The DCO informed that 28 more names were added to the list of the martyrs of Pipal Mandi blast, which was being scrutinized. He assured that no affected family would be left unattended, adding that the elected representatives were being consulted in preparation of the lists of the victims. In his address on the occasion, Hoti said every individual of Pakhtun nation was determined to fight the menace of terrorism in the war of countrys survival. He said enemies of Pakistan were now targeting mosques, imambargahs, worship places, markets, children, women and elderly people to achieve their nefarious designs. He expressed the governments resolve to root out the menace of terrorism from the province. The NWFP CM said, We are confronted with an enemy which was not even hesitant to spare worship places, markets, bazaars, women and children and has no respect and regard for the religion, humanity and morality. The enemy wanted to fulfil their nefarious designs at any cost, he added. It is very difficult to forget the near and dear ones who lost their lives in tragic blasts as it required great strength and determination, he maintained. He prayed Allah Almighty to give them courage so that we could wipe out this menace from its bud. We have to win this war by setting aside all the political, ideological and personal differences, he said adding sacrifices of the martyrs would not go waste. There was no alternative to human life and financial compensation of the victims was merely an attempt to express solidarity with them and minimise their sufferings, he said, adding the compensation process had been made simple and trouble free. The six-month process had now been shrunk to few days, he explained. He also directed the authorities concerned to ensure the payment of the affectees in two weeks time. Provincial Information Minister Mian Iftikhar Hussain offered collective dua for the souls of martyrs of the blast and early recovery of the injured people. Provincial Ministers Syed Aqil Shah, Syed Zahir Ali Shah, MPAs Alamgir Khan, Saqib Khan Chamkani and Commissioner Peshawar Muhammad Azam were present on the occasion.

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