The Sindh government has set aside Rs 300 million for compensating the families of victims of targeted killings in Karachi, sparking an intense debate among the Members Provincial Assembly (MPAs).
The provincial government has asked the Home Department to prepare a list of the victims with complete data and a brief report, and then send a summary to the chief minister. The heirs of every deceased victim would be compensated with Rs 500,000; those who suffered serious injuries would be compensated with Rs 100,000 each; and those with minor injuries would be provided Rs 50,000 each.
The compensation plan would cover only those families and wounded that were affected during the months of July and August this year. Moreover, a commission would be formed to facilitate the victims’ families after completing initial formalities. However, some political leaders and MPAs, including those belonging to the Pakistan People’s Party, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement and the Awami National Party (ANP), have expressed concern over the provincial government’s decision.
Opposing the decision, the MPAs have demanded that compensation should be provided to the families of all the targeted-killing victims of this year. Displaying strong disapproval over the decision, ANP leaders said the government would not exhibit impartiality when providing compensation. On the other hand, a race has begun among political parties to declare maximum number of victims as their activists so they could benefit from the compensation.
It is feared that if the government does not make the compensation process transparent, then the deserving families with no political affiliation would be deprived of their right.
