17 July 2004	Saturday	28 Jamadi-ul-Awwal 1425

KARACHI, July 16: Sindh home minister Rauf Siddiqi has assured the Jafaria Alliance Pakistan that efforts are being made for an early payment of compensation as announced by the federal and provincial governments for the heirs of victims of blasts at Masjid Ali Raza and Masjid Hyderi.

He asked the additional chief secretary home Syed Anwar Hyder to prepare the required summary at the earliest for an approval by the chief minister and the cabinet. The delegation, led by Syed Furqan Hyder Abidi, demanded of the home minister to play his role to ensure payment of compensation as per promises made by the federal minister Aijazul Huq and Sindh governor Dr Ishratul Ibad.

They said that Aijazul Huq had promised that they would be paid a compensation of Rs0.5 million but no progress had been made in the fulfilment of the promise. The delegation also invited the minister's attention towards problems of injured of bomb blasts.

Mr Siddiqi assured the delegation that he would talk to Aijazul Huq regarding payment of compensation amount. The delegation comprised Alliance's secretary-general Syed Salman Mujtaba, Allama Syed Agha Aftab Hyder Jaffery and Syed Bashir Raza.

Later, the minister paid a surprise visit to Liaquatabad to see the traffic flow, and on the occasion ordered the concerned sergeant to challan the violating bus drivers who were reportedly indulging in rash driving and overtaking. -APP