Lahore killings KP complains of lapses in security

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa cabinet on Friday expressed sorrow over the killing of the province’s trainee prison wardens in Lahore and declared arrangements for their stay and security in Punjab’s capital inadequate. Speaking at a news conference after the cabinet meeting, senior provincial minister Rahimdad Khan said Chief Minister Ameer Haider Hoti had announced compensation of Rs3 million each for the said wardens’ families. He said the cabinet had directed the provincial chief secretary and secretary of the provincial home department to stay in contact with the government of Punjab to do ‘the needful.’ “The deceased wardens were our children and we think there is no room for negligence,” he said, adding that the cabinet observed that top priority should have been given by the Punjab government to the dispatch of the bodies to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.According to the minister, Chief Minister Hoti apprised the provincial cabinet about his administration’s handling of the crisis and said he remained in contact with his counterpart in Punjab. The minister said the cabinet took exception to the arrangements made for the stay and security of the trainees in a private hostel during their training in Lahore. “The government of Punjab was required to make foolproof arrangements for our trainees. The cabinet held that there were security lapses and gaps that should have been avoided,” he said. Mr Rahimdad said the cabinet decided to extend compensation to the slain wardens in line with the provincial government’s policy that covered the personnel of the provincial police who fall victim to terrorist attacks. “Even though the dead wardens were not on official duty, their families would get Rs3 million compensation each in recognition of their sacrifice,” he said. The minister said the cabinet also offered condolences to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s seven coal miners, who were gunned down in Balochistan on Thursday and decided to extend Rs100,000 compensation to the families of each of the victims. According to him, the chief minister directed the provincial chief secretary to work out an incentive package for extending financial assistance to the aggrieved families of the slain coal miners. Also, he said, the cabinet discussed the provincial government’s annual development programme for the current fiscal and examined progress on important development initiatives, including Begum Nusrat Bhutto Oncology Services, introduction of modern agriculture practices in the province and provision of interest free loans to industries. Mr Rahimdad said the cabinet discussed and approved the eligibility criteria for those qualifying to benefit from the government’s Rs 1 billion initiative of distributing 25,000 computer laptops among the youth with 16 years of education. “Participants were briefed about the provincial government’s new initiative meant to promote girls education in underdeveloped Torghar and Kohistan district,” he said. The minister also said in Torghar, 250 girl students from grade-I to grade-V would be provided with monthly stipend of Rs1500 each for five years, while eligibility of scholars would be determined on merit. He said the government would spend Rs241 million in five years to promote girls education in Torghar and Kohistan districts. Mr Rahimdad said the cabinet reviewed the plan to set up an oil and gas company in the provincial public sector and approved the industries department’s proposed plan of lending Rs1 billion to the manufacturing sector. The minister said the cabinet also approved the proposal of waving five per cent mark up against loans taken under the Hunermand Rozgaar scheme to encourage skilled workers. “The waiver will apply to all those, who will repay loans in time,” he said.