KARACHI, July 27: The city nazim, Naimatullah Khan, on Tuesday distributed cheques among the heirs of 26 members of an ill-fated family who drowned in Keenjhar lake last year.

Maulana Hasan Turabi, Maulana Qambar Naqvi, UC Nazim of Jaffar Tayyar Society Jafarul Hasan, Qazi Sadruddin, Abdul Rasheed Baig, Ansar Razi, DDO Finance and Planning Muhammad Asif and other officials were present at the cheque presentation ceremony held at Civic Centre.

A cheque for Rs0.4 million was presented to Syed Nasirul Hasan Zaidi, Rs0.15 million to Syed Intekhab Hyder, Rs50,000 to Syeda Kaniz Fatema, Rs0.1 million to Syed Haider Ali Zaidi, Rs0.25 million each to Syed Mustafa Muhammad Kazmi and Syed Nazar Abbas, Rs50,000 each to Syed Zulfiqar Hyder, Syed Nasim Abbas Shah and Syed Nazir Abbas, Rs0.2 million to Syed Khurshid Anwar Jaffery, and Rs0.1 million to Syed Hasnain Akhtar Jaffery.

Speaking on the occasion, Naimatullah Khan said the deaths of 26 members of the same family, including men, women and children, was a big tragedy. He added that everyone had to die one day and there was no price for a life lost.

The city nazim said he had announced for payment of compensation on June 1, 2003, adding, however, that the delay in payment occurred due to scrutiny of legal heirs of the deceased and some other matters. He also called in objections, if any, to the distribution of cheques or to legitimacy of the heirs. - APP