6 labourers case: SC directs Okara police to provide security to families

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) on Thursday directed the Okara police to ensure security to the affected families of six labourers who were killed in Balochistan's Kharan district on May 3 while fixing the U-Fone tower in the Lilji area.

A two-member bench of the apex court comprising Justice Umar Atta Bandial and Justice Ijazul Ahsan took up suo moto case in the matter. On May 5, Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Mian Saqib Nisar took notice of the killing of six labourers hailing from Okara who were fixing a U-Fone tower in area Lilji at District Kharan. The bench while resuming the hearing in the matter on Thursday directed the government of Punjab and Balochistan to deposit the compensation amount in the account of District and Sessions Judge Okara who will than distribute it among the legal heirs of the labourers.

In pursuance of the court earlier order, the counsel for cellular phone company U-Fone and governments of Punjab and Balochistan submitted financial package for the affected families.

During the hearing, legal heirs of the labourers informed the court that the local contractors were threatening them of dire consequences and requested the court to provide them security. They further alleged that the court is being misguided as they have not yet been given any financial support. Counsel for U Fone submitted that legal heirs of the labourers would be provided Rs1 million each besides Rs20,000 per month for three years.

On court query, Additional Advocate General Punjab informed the court that the provincial government has drafted a summary under which RsI million will be given as compensation to the families of each labourer.

Similarly, the government of Balochistan also submitted financial package for the affected families. The court directed that the government of Balochistan too will pay Rs1 million each to the affected families besides paying Rs0.5 million to each injured person. The court directed the Okara police to ensure security to the affected families and adjourned further hearing till first week of June.