Rs 2 Million Jaranwala package fails to end compensation dispute

The Jaranwala compensation dispute remains unresolved as the Senate Functional Committee on Human Rights was told that 84 family heads had received a Rs2 million compensation package, while complaints from affected people over unpaid claims and losses continue to reach the committee.

Islamabad: The Jaranwala compensation dispute remains unresolved as the Senate Functional Committee on Human Rights was told that 84 family heads had received a Rs2 million compensation package, while complaints from affected people over unpaid claims and losses continue to reach the committee.

The committee discussed the matter during a meeting chaired by Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri, who expressed strong frustration over the slow progress on the case.

Officials told the committee they had examined a list of 126 people after members of the Christian community raised concerns. Of these, 71 people had already received compensation, while 28 were residents of the same houses where compensation had already been paid to the head of the family.

Officials stated that 20 cases involved buildings with no visible signs of damage or where theft claims could not be verified. Other cases included a tenant matter, a case involving the same family living in one house with separate entrances, three families linked to the primary accused, and one pastor’s house already renovated by the Communication and Works Department. One family named Parvez was found eligible and received compensation.

Officials told the committee the Punjab government had approved a lump sum package of Rs2 million for each family head after an assessment process. They said 84 family heads had been compensated under that policy.

The committee chairperson, however, said the issue had remained before the committee for around two and a half years and that some affected people were still reporting they had not received compensation.

Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri said affected people had previously provided photographs, location details and names of people whose cases needed checking, but the committee had not received the detailed answers it wanted.

She also raised concern about situations where several families lived in one house but compensation was treated as payment to only one family head. She said such a payment would not automatically settle the claims of all families living in that house.

A police and prosecution official told the committee that compensation was not directly a police matter and suggested that a committee led by the Chief Secretary could examine the remaining claims on merit, with police representation.

The Punjab Home Department told the committee that meetings had occurred with representatives of the Christian community and officials in Faisalabad. It said the district assessment process was complete, and the Cabinet had approved the Rs2 million package after some claims were considered difficult to verify.

The department also reported that the latest report concerning the 126 people had been submitted to the Supreme Court, where the case remains pending.

The committee also heard that questions had been raised about the renovation of churches affected during the incident. Officials reported that a committee under the Commissioner had visited eight churches with representatives of the Christian community and prepared a detailed report on their condition.

Senator Abid Sher Ali called for a subcommittee to examine the remaining issues and prepare a report. Senator Aimal Wali Khan also stressed that the state has a responsibility to support affected people.

The committee decided that the issue would remain under consideration and that further details should be examined so that genuinely affected people could receive a clear decision on their claims. The chairperson said she wanted both sides to reach a point where the compensation matter could be considered properly settled.