12 March 2004	Friday	20 Muharram 1425

QUETTA, March 11: The Balochistan Chief Minister, Jam Mir Mohammad Yousuf, has issued orders to initially release Rs150 million for the immediate rehabilitation of those affected by the Quetta carnage on March 2.

"Losses compensation process should be started without any delay," the chief minister directed the concerned authorities here on Thursday. Official sources said here that Chief Minister Jam Yousuf has taken this step keeping in view the problems being faced by the traders' whose shops and commercial establishments and properties were looted and set on fire by miscreants in the city after the firing and suicide attack on the Ashura procession.

"The government is releasing this amount so the traders may be able to restart their business," sources said, adding that the government would provide more funds in this account after receiving reports from the two loss assessment committees set up by the provincial government.

The affected traders and business persons have filed their claims with two assessment committees set up by the government and their reports were expected in the next few days. The traders, through their organizations had threatened to launch protests from March 14 if compensation for losses was not paid.

Meanwhile, a traders' delegation held meetings with the Balochistan Governor Owais Ahmed Ghani and Chief Minister Jam Mir Mohammad Yousuf on Thursday. It was learnt here that the affected shopkeepers and other traders have filed claims totalling over Rs one billion for their damaged properties.