By Fazal Khaliq
MINGORA: The people affected by earthquake and workers of political parties other than PTI staged a demonstration here on Wednesday to protest what they called nepotism in distribution of compensation cheques.
The earthquake victims belonging of Kabal, Barikot, Charbagh and Matta tehsils and political activists gathered outside Swat Press Club and chanted slogans against PTI and provincial government. They alleged that distribution of compensation cheques was based on nepotism and favouritism as deserving people were ignored in the process.
“The patwaris came and surveyed our damaged houses, however, affected people were left out when cheques were distributed. The cheques were distributed among undeserving people,” said Mohammad Kamal, a protester from Matta.
The protesters alleged that provincial government benefitted only the supporters of PTI. They said that despite seeing their damaged houses the patwari refused to enlist him in the earthquake victims.
“I went again and again to report to patwari, assistant commissioner and tehsildar where the lists of victims were finalised. They assured me of enlisting but I was ignored in the compensation process. My neighbours and other villagers provided me with some non-food items,” said 70-year-old Gul Dad.
Shah Zaman, another protester, said that they were busy in collecting different items from the debris of their house when other people, who had not received any loss in the earthquake, went to the offices of patwari and tehsil administration and enlisted themselves as quake victims.
“The government agencies did not verify them and blindly gave them compensation cheques while the deserving people were ignored,” he added.
However, MPA Fazal Hakim said that a proper committee was formed in each and every tehsil to monitor distribution of cheques among the affected people to minimise irregularities in the process.
“Nevertheless, if any deserving person has been ignored he must visit the tehsil office concerned and enlist himself. I assure them that they will be given the compensation amount,” he added.
The deputy commissioner has also admitted that fake earthquake victims were detected and compensation cheques were taken back from them. He said that legal action was also taken against such people.
