MANSEHRA, Feb 17: Deputy Commissioner Zulfiqar Ali Shah has ordered payment of compensation to traders whose prefabricated shops and goods were gutted in a blaze in Balakot a few days ago.

“I have asked the assistant commissioner, Balakot, to finalise the damage assessment so that the affected traders could be compensated,” he said while speaking to the affected traders on Sunday.

The deputy commissioner visited the market where 12 prefabricated shops were reduced to ashes in a fire caused by electricity short-circuit. The affected shopkeepers apprised him of the financial losses caused by the fire. Mr Shah said that the government was aware of the traders’ difficulties following October 2005 earthquake. He said that he had already taken up the issue of New Balakot City and other reconstruction projects with the Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority to remove hurdles to the development work.

“I am optimistic that the survivors would be allotted plots in the new city soon,” he said. President of traders’ body, Mohammad Tahir Raja, was also present on the occasion.

PUBLIC MEETING: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leader Akhtar Hussain Shah has claimed that he is in a position to defeat candidate of any political party, including Pakistan People’s Party, in coming general election.

Speaking at a public gathering in Balakot on Sunday, Mr Akhtar, who is the elder brother of PPP provincial minister Ahmad Hussain Shah, said that he would defeat whoever came in his way.

He thanked PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif for supporting him and said that those who betrayed the party for the sake of power would face defeat in coming elections.

Mr Shah claimed that his party would sweep coming election in the country with support of people who were fed up with policies of the PPP-led coalition government.