SC disposes of Iraq-Kuwait victims’ case

Directs Overseas Pakistanis Foundation (OPF) be contacted in case of reservations over reimbursement of claims

ISLAMABAD

APP

The Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday disposed of the Iraq-Kuwait war victims’ case and remarked that if someone had reservations over the reimbursement of claims then he should contact Overseas Pakistanis Foundation (OPF).

The three-member SC bench headed by Justice Nasirul Mulk comprising Justice Jawwad S Khawaja and Justice Umar Atta Bandial resumed hearing of the case.

During the course of proceedings, OPF counsel Gul Hassan Aurangzaib submitted report regarding claims disbursed to the victims. He said that OPF received claims from United Nations Compensations Commission (UNCC) through the federal government which were paid to the victims. He informed the court that the foundation received Rs 260 million on the account of profit and service charges.

Justice Khawaja asked Hassan that whether amount received on account of profit and service charges were distributed among the affected people. He said that OPF issued Rs 200 million cheques among the victims and the process to distribute cheques was continuing as UNCC set bench mark of 1.5 per cent for services charges.

Justice Khawaja said that OPF received 44,300 claims in the year 2001 and 830 claims were registered in 2003 and payments were made to them. He remarked that payments should be made according to the UNCC rules.

On this the OPF counsel replied that funds were distributed keeping in mind the key principles of the UNCC.

The SC judge remarked that OPF should decide a deadline for distribution of funds as it was the matter of 1991 and 23 years had already passed.

The court expressed satisfaction on the OPF report and disposed of the case and also directed the victims to contact OPF for further complaints.