ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court has summoned the Joint Secretary (Admin) of the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Administration on September 15 over the non-payment of compensation to the families of victims of the Islamabad Judicial Complex suicide attack.
The development came during the hearing of a petition filed by lawyer Muhammad Asif Gujjar, seeking compensation for those affected by the suicide attack at the Judicial Complex.
During the proceedings, the Deputy Commissioner’s Office informed the Islamabad High Court that no separate budget had been allocated for compensating the families of those killed in the attack.
Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir heard the petition concerning payment of compensation to the victims and their families.
The Deputy Commissioner’s Office told the court that funds had not been allocated for compensation to the families of the deceased. It added that compensation cheques had been distributed among the families of people killed or injured in the Tarlai Imambargah blast, and that a letter had been sent to the Chief Commissioner’s Office requesting allocation of funds for the Judicial Complex victims.
The petitioner’s counsel said the Deputy Commissioner of Islamabad had again submitted a response stating that there were no funds available for the compensation.
Counsel Tasaddaq Hanif criticised the authorities over the lack of funds, questioning how resources could be available for other expenditures while compensation for those killed in the attack remained unpaid.
The state counsel informed the court that compensation for victims of the Tarlai Imambargah blast had been paid after funds were provided by the Ministry of Interior.
The court initially considered summoning the Interior Secretary but decided to summon the Joint Secretary (Admin), ICT, instead.
The hearing was subsequently adjourned until September 15.
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