DERA GHAZI KHAN, Jan 8: The district government has formed a committee to ascertain afresh the loss of property during riots erupted after the assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto in Rawalpindi on Dec 27.

The provincial government had directed the district government to review its earlier report of damages prepared by a committee without observing set procedure and rules.

The district government had reported to the provincial government that loss of property worth Rs21 million occurred in the aftermath of the PPP chairperson’s assassination and the ensuing riots but it had not adopted the rules of procedure and had not constituted a proper committee for the purpose.

Seven branches of foreign banks, offices of Dera and Taunsa Tehsil Municipal administrations, a police station and a civilian are among the claimants.

The district government had earlier formed a five-member committee but the Punjab government has now directed it to constitute an eight-member committee including the representatives of Dera Chamber of Commerce and Industries (DCCI).

The DCCI senior vice-president told Dawn that the newly-formed committee would review previous committee’s report regarding the actual price and cost of loss of property including the loss caused to traders during riots, which was not ascertained in the report compiled earlier.