CM Bugti promises compensation, jobs and education to victims’ families; all abductees were rescued
QUETTA:
The five-day protest sit-in on Quetta’s airport road against the Hanna Urak tragedy was peacefully called off on Friday after successful talks between Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti and the protest committee.
The participants immediately removed their protest tents and camps after the agreement. The airport road, which had been closed for five days, was fully reopened to all types of traffic.
CM Bugti held detailed talks with the protest committee, the heirs of the martyrs and the tribal elders. The meeting was also attended by Provincial Health Minister Bakht Muhammad Kakar, Senator Manzoor Ahmed Kakar, Quetta Divisional Commissioner Shahzeb Kakar, Special Assistant to CM on Information Shahid Rind and other senior officials.
Rind said negotiations with the protest committee were successful. The heirs expressed confidence in CM Bugti’s assurances and announced the end of the protest.
On this occasion, Bugti said that he had been in constant contact with the protest committee since the first day and had done everything to get a peaceful, dignified and lasting solution to the problem.
“I have a long-standing relationship of respect and trust with the affected families and their elders, which will also continue in the future,” he said.
He assured that if there was any lapse or error at any level on the part of the government, it would be acknowledged and rectified. The affected families would be provided with all possible relief and support.
The Chief Minister revealed that important decisions were taken in the meeting of the Balochistan Apex Committee in the presence of the Prime Minister and the Chief of Defense Forces, adding that full implementation of these decisions would be ensured.
He announced that the heirs of the martyrs of the Hann Urak incident would receive financial compensation, government jobs would be provided to family members and the government of Balochistan would bear all educational expenses of the martyrs’ children.
Read more: Civil-military leadership vows to eradicate terror
Bugti reiterated the government’s resolve to take all possible steps to protect people’s lives and property and establish lasting peace in the province.
It may be recalled that on July 5, unidentified gunmen attacked the Hann Urak area of Kili Babri on the outskirts of Quetta, killing five civilians, injuring eight others and abducting 11 people.
In protest, the heirs and locals had blocked the airport road for five days, severely affecting city traffic. Meanwhile, provincial interior minister Mir Ziaullah Langau confirmed that all 11 abductees were rescued safely. Ten were released on Thursday night, while one was released a day earlier. All were taken safely to Quetta.
The health minister also confirmed the recovery and said it was made possible through the joint efforts of the Balochistan government, law enforcement agencies and tribal elders.
