LAHORE: The Supreme Court, while hearing a case at the Lahore Registry, on Saturday ordered the federal government and four provinces to pay compensation amount to affectees whose properties were destroyed and damaged during protests following the apex court verdict in Aasia Bibi case, ARY News reported.

Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar, during the case hearing, sought report from officials concerned after implementation on the court orders.

The court also inquired from the government that why the affectees were not compensated after lapse of two and a half month of the protest.

The protection of life and property of citizens is the responsibility of the government, the CJP remarked.

A home department official said the losses incurred during the protests had been calculated. He said Rs 262 million losses were found in Punjab.

The officer informed the court that the government would soon start disbursing compensation amount to the affectees.

Justice Nisar on Nov 7 took suo motu notice of the losses caused by the riots that broke out in the country during the three-day protests organised by a group of religio-political parties over the acquittal of Aasia Bibi, a Christian woman, of a blasphemy charge.

The CJP had directed the federal and the provincial governments to submit reports within three days on the losses and steps taken to compensate victims of these riots.

Chief Justice Nisar took notice “on media reports that huge losses have been caused to general public on account of judgement delivered by Supreme Court in Asia Masih Case,” a statement issued by the apex court said at that times.

Source