PESHAWAR - Expressing anger over relentless incidents of target killings and sectarian violence, leaders of Shiite community have demanded of the government to carry out clean-up operation against terrorist groups in Peshawar and ensure protection to the lives and properties of masses.
Speaking at a press conference here at Peshawar Press Club on Wednesday, Shiite community leader Jawad Hadi said that the government and security agencies have failed to take action against terrorist groups, allegedly involved in the massacre of innocent people in Peshawar and elsewhere in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Terrorists groups, he said, have apparently targeted the Shia community, over the past many days in Peshawar. He said the recent suicide attack on Pak Hotel left innocent people, including women and children, belonging to Shiite sects killed and maimed.
Flanked by Shiite Ulema including Khurshid Anwar Jawadi, Asghar Rahjani, Abid Ali Shakari, Arif Hussain Hassaini, Anjuman-e-Momineen Pak Hotel president Askar Ali and members of the community, he alleged that terrorists groups were involved in the killing of their two leaders Allama Musvi and Sardar Ali Asghar. He said that terrorists were even not spared mosques, imambargahs, bazaars and residential areas while targeting innocent people.
"We demand solid steps for security and protection to the lives and properties," he said and warned that no more massacres of innocent people would be tolerated. He viewed that terrorists groups want to create rift among Shia and Sunni sects, and they would not be succeeded in their nefarious mission.
He also urged the judiciary to take action against terrorist organisations by following constitution and laws, and to get rid of the people from menace of terrorism.
Earlier, the community members and activists of Imamia Students' Organisation staged a protest rally on main Sher Shah Suri Road against the suicide attack on Pak Hotel in Koche-Risaldar near Qissa Khawani Bazaar.
FUNERAL PRAYERS OF EIGHT BLAST VICTIMS OFFERED
Amid tears and grief, funeral prayers of eight people killed in a suicide blast on the main gate of a hotel in Peshawar were offered in Kurram Agency on Wednesday.
The blast occurred at the main gate of Pak Hotel at Kocha Risaldar, a Shiite dominated neighbourhood in Peshawar city, resultantly nine people have been killed and 50 others sustained injuries.
Most of the victims were hailing from Parachinar, Kurram Agency. The funeral prayers of eight victims were offered at the central Imambargah in Parachinar amid tear and grief. Later, their coffins were sent to their native villages for burial.
To express solidarity with families and condemn killing of people in the suicide attack, all trade markets remained closed in Kurram Agency. Tribes have announced three days mourning against the tragic incident.
In Peshawar, where the blast have happened Kocha Risaldar, all the markets and shops remained closed. Several houses, shops and vehicles have damaged in the blast. To probe into the incident, police have formed a three members committee.
In the initial report, it has been said that the bomber was aged between 17 to 18 years of age. More investigation is in progress. Political and religious parties have condemned the blast and called for tightening security to protect lives, honour and properties of the common people.
Hospital sources said that at least 27 injured of the blast are still admitted, four of them were stated to be in critical condition. Police will soon release sketch of suicide bomber to media.
CONCERN SHOWN OVER DEDUCTION IN EX-SERVICEMEN'S SALARIES
The ex-servicemen of Elite Force in Malakand division have expressed concern over the deduction in their salaries, despite increase made by the previous government.
Addressing a news conference here at Peshawar Press Club on Wednesday, Raj Wali and Usman, ex-government employees serving in Buner police, said that about 2500 retired army personnel were employed by the former Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government in Malakand division and other parts of the province. He added that they have been serving for the last five years in police forces on contract basis.
Raj Wali said at the time of the employment constable were hired against a monthly salary of Rs 14459 and havaldar ar Rs 15425, assistant sub inspector ASI at Rs 16835, sub-inspector at Rs 19695 and inspector at Rs 24027, which they continued to get for about two years. He said, in 2011, the then chief minister announced 50 per cent increase in salaries of police force; in which their salaries were too increased. He informed that monthly salary of a constable was increased up to Rs 20463, havaldar at Rs 21858, ASI at Rs 23691, SI at Rs 28352 and inspector up to Rs 38608.
Wali said that they continued to get this 50 per cent hike for about six months; however, in 2012 police department slashed the increased amount from their salaries and started deducting it from their salary. He said that they this amount was deducted from their salaries for about six months. The Peshawar High Court (PHC) direction about their salaries was ignored by the police department, he informed.
He said that these deductions were in violation of a Supreme Court's verdict in 2007, that says employees who get extra allowances and raises cannot be deducted from their salaries. He said the deductions worth Rs 40 million each have been made from Buner and Hangu alone. He also said that presently a regular constable was getting Rs 24000, while retired army personnel working on the same rank was getting Rs 19000 and said that the police department was not providing them with uniforms. Wali said a retired army personnel serving in police force did not given Shuhda package like police personnel, killed in terrorist incidents.