SC orders inquiry into delayed compensation to Quetta church bombing victims

• CJP summons detailed report in a month

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) ordered on Friday inquiry into the delay over disbursement of compensation to the affectees of the Quetta church attack.

During a suo motu hearing at the apex court on Friday, Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar ordered the provincial chief secretary to inquire into the issue and submit a detailed report in a month.

“The inquiry will decide who should be held responsible for the delay in payment,” remarked the top judge.

At least nine people were killed and over 50 injured when terrorists stormed Bethel Memorial Methodist Church on December 17, 2017.

Officials had said security forces intercepted and shot one bomber outside but the second attacker managed to reach the church’s main door where he blew himself up.

Following the attack, both the federal and provincial governments had announced monetary compensation for the victims.

On May 12, Justice Nisar had ordered Balochistan government to ensure disbursement of compensation to the affectees of the Quetta church attack within one month. However, the amount has yet to be released to the affectees.

Moreover, the legal counsel of the Balochistan government had also informed the court that the compensation amount was handed over to additional sessions judge.

Responding to this, Chief Justice Nisar had remarked: “The court had also ordered [the government] to submit penalty for delaying the payment with the actual payment.”

The attorney general had said that the amount handed over is the one which was requested from the Finance Ministry. “Additional amount will be released in three working days,” he added.

The CJP had said the provincial government did not hold a single meeting over the matter even though months had passed.

The additional deputy commissioner said that the government had held four meeting over the issue. To which, the CJP remarked that those meetings were held after it came into the notice of Supreme Court.