PESHAWAR, April 21: MPA Atiqur Rehman has rejected the Rs90 million compensation announced by NWFP Chief Minister Akram Khan Durrani for victims of the Ashura bomb blast and violence in Hangu.

Speaking at a press conference at the press club here on Friday, the MPA expressed apprehension that the city might witness more bloodshed if the government did not show empathy towards the victims.

He said the government had not properly estimated the damage caused by the violence.

He said he was considering the option to resign from the provincial assembly if the government did not announce judicious compensation for affected people of both the communities.

He said people in the city had suffered far greater damage than the amount of Rs90 million estimated by the government’s committee.

“I am member of the committee, but I have not attended any of its meetings because its members have no realisation of the damaged caused to property of people in Hangu,” he said.

He said a committee comprising local elders and traders had estimated the loss of be of up to Rs1.5 billion. He said whole markets were torched by rioters after the blast in the Ashura procession.

He said the gravity of the situation could be judged from the fact that the whole Hangu market had been closed since the incident despite pressure of the government and intelligence agencies on local people to open their business.

“Any one can visit Hangu to see the situation in the city. The affected people are being compelled to revolt against the attitude of the government and the local administration regarding their woes,” the MPA said.

He regretted that no high official of the province or the centre initiated a proper inquiry into the Hangu incident while the whole of the government machinery came into motion after the recent explosion in Karachi.

He said a strike would be observed in Hangu against the provincial government on April 24.

“I will decide about resigning after consultation with those who have sent me to the assembly,” he said.

He said the strike would be followed by blockade of the Hangu Highway on April 28.

He accused the chief minister of neglecting the district.