34,000 families are affected by Diamer Bhash Dam. Hope for Compensation after the recent barbaric police shooting.

ISLAMABAD: On the heels of a tragedy during rally of Diamer-Bhasha dam affectees Thursday, the government has summoned a crucial meeting on February 23 to thrash out a compensation package for the proposed dam’s affectees.

A source close to Prime Minister House told The News that Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani had taken exception to the firing incident and asked Federal Minister for Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir Affairs Mian Manzoor Wattoo to hold a meeting to finalise a compensation package for the affectees.

At least two persons were killed and four others injured when police opened fire at a protest rally of Diamer-Bhasha Dam affectees at the district headquarters Chilas. Manzoor Wattoo expressed deep grief and sorrow over the incident. He asked G-B Chief Minister Mehdi Shah, Chief Secretary and IG Gilgit-Baltistan to reach the place of incident and show sympathy with the relatives of those who lost their lives in the incident.

He said Prime Minister Gilani had announced compensation of Rs0.5 million each for the dead and Rs0.1 million each for the wounded and initiate judicial inquiry into the incident. The culprits should be brought to justice, he said.

Manzoor Wattoo ordered removal of the deputy commissioner and superintendent police of the district Chilas immediately. He was confident the Wednesday meeting would come up with a compensation package for the dam affectees.

APP adds: Meanwhile, a addressing a news conference at party secretariat, PML-N central leader Siddiqul Farooq condemned the killing of two persons in a protest demonstration of the dam affectees in Gilgit-Baltistan.

He said compensation amount to heirs of the deceased must be increased from Rs500,000 to Rs1 million. Members of Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly Haji Janbaz Khan, Mufti Abdullah and local leaders were also present on this occasion.,

He said the number of affected families of the proposed Diamer-Bhasha dam was more than 34,000, adding a charter of demand containing 16 demands of the residents of district Diamer had already been given to the quarters concerned.

Source: http://www.thenews.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=27371

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