BOONI: The compensation amount from the federal government to affected people of recent rain and snowfall in Upper Chitral were doled out mostly to the residents of Awi, including the mother of PTI MPA Suriya Bibi.
Under the direction of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the federal government paid Rs700,000 for each fully damaged house and Rs350,000 for a partially damaged house. Earlier, 28 affected families were paid the compensation cheques in Lower Chitral.
In Upper Chitral, a total of 17 house owners were handed over cheques a few days ago. As many as 10 house owners received Rs700,000 each and seven others Rs350,000 each.
According to the list, PTI MPA and KP assembly deputy speaker Suriya Bibi’s mother Malika Begum Noor Alam Khan of Awi was among the affected persons. She was given a cheque for Rs350,000. Moreover, Safia Bibi, Muhammad Wazir Khan and Qurban Baig of Awi were handed Rs700,000 each. Jawad Ali, son of Abdul Ghafar, also a resident of Awi, received a cheque for Rs350,000. The other beneficiaries belonged to Charun, Booni, Kosht, Saht and Reshun.
The people of Upper Chitral criticized the district administration for doling out the compensation amount to those who were not affected by the recent snow at all. The snowfall brought miseries to the dwellers of the far-off Broghil valley but no one there was considered for the compensation.
In a message on social media, Suriya Bibi denied any role in the distribution of the compensation. She claimed that she came to know about the payment of the compensation to her mother and others through the social media. After taking oath, none of the PTI lawmakers has returned to Chitral.