Shuhada Package for landmines victims in tribal districts sought

PESHAWAR: Senator Dost Mohammed Khan has moved an adjournment motion in the Senate to draw the attention of the defence minister regarding the issue of de-mining in the erstwhile tribal areas, particularly in South Waziristan, North Waziristan, Bajaur, Khyber and Khurram tribal districts where hundreds of people have lost their lives and scores became physically handicapped in landmine explosions since the start of the war on terror there.

Dost Mohammad Khan belongs to the Mehsud tribe of South Waziristan. He was the first tribal parliamentarian to inform the august house of the suffering of landmines and their poor financial conditions.

He lamented that the victims of these deadly mines had never been paid even a single compensation package by the previous governments, which amounted to criminal negligence.

Senator Dost Mohammad Khan demanded a Shuhada Package for the bereaved families of those who lost their lives in mine explosions and Rs2 million to those who sustained injuries and became disabled besides government jobs.

He appealed to the government to launch a demining operation along proper scientific lines in tribal districts and other parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa including Malakand and Swat where unexploded mines pose serious threats to the local population.

Dost Mohammad Khan even suggested the involvement of United Nations demining teams in the said areas to effectively eradicate the threat.

He called for the free treatment of the victims of landmines in the military hospitals as unfortunately the government-run hospitals are lacking the expertise to treat such cases.

In this regard, he suggested that a proper mine awareness campaign be launched on media in Pashto language to educate the public about the hazards and dangers of mines and de-mining equipment be procured from abroad and handed over to the people of the affected areas to do de-mining themselves with the help locally trained youths and clear their area of the menace forever.

Senator Dost Mohammed drew attention of the house and in particular the defence minister, saying that 100,000 Pashtuns lost their lives in the erstwhile Fata, Swat and rest of the areas in the Malakand division during the war on terror.

He said it was very unfortunate that none of the governments had ever acknowledged sacrifices of these unsung heroes and the state failed to give them financial assistance.

He said these Pashtuns had lost their lives and suffered heavy financial losses for the state of Pakistan but their grieved families are leading a pitiable existence with no help from any quarters except lip-service and mere media statements.

The tribal lawmaker demanded a proper survey in the landmines-affected areas and suggested financial assistance to the families of those who died in these mines and those who became physically handicapped.

Besides financial assistance, Senator Dost Mohammad Khan urged the federal and provincial governments to provide jobs to the family members of the landmines’ victims.