PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government here on Sunday requested the Peshawar High Court to conduct judicial inquiry into the killing of three persons during an anti-encroachment drive at Ghanta Ghar.

The provincial home and tribal affairs department has written a letter to the high court in this regard. Three people were killed and two others got injuries on Friday night when an excavator removing illegal structure ran over the protesting crowd.

The Peshawar Municipal Corporation had launched an anti-encroachment drive in different localities of the provincial capital aimed at restoring the old glory of the city, officials said. Shopkeepers have been opposing the campaign.

The department requested the registrar of high court to conduct a probe into the matter and determine the causes behind the unfortunate deaths of three persons during the drive and fix responsibility in this regard.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Pervez Khattak increased death compensation for the deceased from Rs1 million to Rs2 million each, said a handout. He made this announcement during a meeting with a delegation of traders and shopkeepers at the Chief Minister’s House. He directed the authorities concerned to immediately arrest the driver of excavator, because apparently the deaths occurred due to his negligence.

Earlier, the government had announced Rs1million death compensation for each victim on Saturday. The chief minister also announced Rs200,000 for each wounded person.

According to the handout, the chief minister informed the delegation that some political leaders were trying to provoke citizens against the government. He said that business community had foiled ulterior motives of these elements.

He said that the MPA concerned and local traders would supervise the anti-encroachment drive in the city in future. He said a mafia, which had occupied the streets and roads illegally, was responsible for the city to be in bad shape and added that his government was determined to clear the city of encroachments.

Published in Dawn January 19th , 2015

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