PHC warns govt of contempt in compensation case.

PESHAWAR -- The Peshawar High Court on Wednesday asked the federal and provincial governments to pay within 30 days compensation under the Shuhada Package to the families of three Khasadar personnel, who were martyred by terrorists while escorting an anti-polio team in Khyber tribal district five years ago.

A bench consisting of Chief Justice Waqar Ahmad Seth and Justice Abdul Shakoor expressed displeasure at the non-payment of compensation to those families despite its orders and warned that if payments under the Shuhada Package were not given within 30 days, contempt proceedings would begin against the respondents, including federal finance secretary, provincial additional chief secretary and director general of the Provincial Disaster Management Authority.

It fixed Dec 17 for next hearing into the contempt petitions filed by family members of the three martyred khasadars, including Shafiullah, Amjad and Farhad, warning that if the compensation is not paid until then, the respondents will be prosecuted under the contempt law.

Twelve khasadar personnel and a child were killed on Mar 1, 2014, in two bomb explosions during an anti-polio vaccination campaign in Jamrud tehsil of Khyber tribal district (then Khyber Agency).

Orders payment to fallen khasadars' families under Shuhada Package in 30 days

Mohammad Ilyas Orakzai, lawyer for the petitioners, said the families of his clients were killed in an act of terrorism as they were on duty and were escorting anti-polio teams to the area.

He said under the relevant rules, the legal heirs, including the petitioners, were entitled to receive compensation under the Shuhada Package but the government paid them compensation to the tune of Rs300,000 each.

The...