Compensate terror-hit students, says Islamabad varsity official

Islamabad, Nov 6 : The families of the seven dead and 35 injured students who were victims of twin bombings Oct 20 at the International Islamic University at this Pakistani capital should be compensated, a varsity official has said.

International Islamic University president Anwar Siddique said that the government is yet to announce any kind of financial assistance or compensation for families of students who lost their lives or sustained injuries during twin suicide bomb blasts.

"It is requested that families of the seven deceased female and male students as well as the families of 35 injured students may be compensated by the government, as is done these days in all such cases of suicide bombings and bomb blasts in the country," The News reported Friday quoting a statement issued here by Siddique.

Two synchronised suicide bombings took place at the university Oct 20 when thousands of students were in the sprawling campus.

The twin bombings at the International Islamic University took place amid heightened security following the Pakistani military launching a major offensive against the Taliban, which has vowed retaliation. Pakistan has been subjected to a wave of terror attacks in the last fortnight, the Dawn pointed out.

Siddique said five female students died in the blast at the cafeteria and two male students died in the second blast at Shariah department.

He said two of the seriously injured girls were still being treated while two of the male students are in the burns unit.

"The employees of the university and students are also doing their best to raise funds for supporting the families of the deceased and the injured girls," he was quoted as saying.

Rector Fateh Muhammad Malik said that the university is utilising all its resources for treatment of the injured students, but it needs financial help from the government.

"We have written a letter to the concerned government department and we hope that necessary measures would be taken at the earliest to provide financial help to the injured students," he said.

Over 200 people have been killed in the latest wave of violence that began Oct 5 with a suicide bombing at the offices of the UN World Food Programme here.

--IANS