DERA GHAZI KHAN: The district government has officially requested the finance department for sanctioning financial assistance for bereaved parents of three young residents of the Gaddai area of Dera Ghazi Khan who were shot dead in a terrorist attack in Balochistan in January.

Addressing the application lodged by the parents of the deceased in which parents stated that driver Ahamd Rasheed, 20, and two teenager brothers -- Ali Haider and Kumail Haider -- were traveling on a truck laden with coal when the militants intercepted and shot them dead in the vicinity of Machh Dhadar in Balochistan on Jan 29.

After necessary investigation of the case by the office of Commissioner Dr Nasir Mahmood, it was established that the three were shot dead in a terrorist attack.

Neither the Balochistan government nor the Punjab government has yet to sanctioned a financial assistance to the mother of Ali and Kumail, and Rasheed Ahmed, father of Ahmed. Rasheed is sick and unable to earn livelihood.

Deputy Commissioner Shahid Zaman Luk told Dawn that the district government equally shared the pain of grieve parents. He said that recommendations for financial assistance to bereaved families had already been sent to the finance department.

He said he was hopeful that the government would soon sanctioned financial assistance.

Published in Dawn, May 5th, 2024