PESHAWAR, April 25: NWFP Chief Minister Amir Haider Khan Hoti has condemned the bomb blast near Mardan city police station and expressed his deep shock over the loss of precious lives in the incident.

The chief minister also announced a sum of Rs100,000 for those killed, Rs50,000 for critically injured and Rs25,000 for slightly injured.

He termed the blast a plot to derail the peace process being initiated by the provincial government, saying such acts could not deter them from bringing peace in the province.

“We are committed to establish writ of the government and will not spare those involved in such heinous rimes,” said Mr Hoti.

He expressed sympathies with the bereaved families and said all the resources would be utilized to bring the culprits behind the blast to justice.

He directed hospital staff to provide free of cost treatment to the injured persons.

Meanwhile, talking to a representative delegation of the coordination council of the Secretariat led by council president Muhammad Iqbal who called on him at his office here on Friday, the chief minister said that the government officials had a key role to play in running the government affairs. He said that problems faced by the government employees would be resolved on priority basis.

The delegation apprised the chief minister about their problems and invited him to join Regi Lalma plot allotment ceremony for distribution of allotment letters as a chief guest. The chief minister accepted their invitation and said very soon he would be visiting the Secretariat.

Hoti said that basic facilities of life were the right of government officials and his government would not discriminate in this regard. He urged the officials to utilise their energies for resolving the problems being faced by the people of the province.

Meanwhile, several ministers, MNAs and MPAs held separate meetings with the chief minister at his office and informed him about the problems being faced by the people of their respective constituencies.—APP