KARACHI: Families of the Karachi airport attack victims are in a quandary at the moment. Since the day a huge fire inside the storage at the airport claimed seven lives, the families of those burnt to death have been facing a dilemma of their own. That is, whether to accept the compensation money or file a case against the administration.

For almost two months now, head of the workers’ union, Yunus Khan, is busy working with the families in filing a case against the Gerry’s Dnata administration for the “callousness they showed in rescuing those stuck inside the room”.

Also read: Seven bodies recovered from Karachi airport’s cold-storage facility

But so far, he is having a tough time. “Four families out of seven went back on their word and accepted the compensation being offered by the company. I understand that some of them are really poor. They are free to do as they please. But I’m amazed that no one wants to find out who is responsible for their loved one’s death?” he says.

In June, Advocate Nadeem Sheikh filed an application with the Human Rights Cell of the Supreme Court, requesting it to take action against the government for not financially compensating the families of the victims. The government, according to Yunus Khan, has still not responded to that petition. “Gerry’s Dnata however has raised the compensation amount [from Rs700,000 to Rs1 million] and has once again approached the families,” he adds.

Death of cargo workers at airport

Out of the remaining three families who still haven’t accepted the compensation is Saifur Rehman’s brother, Hafizur Rehman. Speaking to Dawn, the 32-year-old initially spoke about his brother Saif who worked at the cargo department and then about his meeting with one of the administration authorities at the company. “Two days after the incident, he [company head] came to my home armed with documents and a cheque. I just showed him the pictures I had received of my brother’s charred body, and I showed it to him. Without saying a word he left our apartment leaving his visiting card behind, asking me to call him whenever I feel comfortable. And that’s the problem. I don’t feel comfortable accepting the money and yet I think at one point I’ll have to.” So far, the company has called him up several times, he adds. Since Ramazan the calls are getting frequent, but Hafiz says he is discussing the matter with his elders before making a decision. So far, his family is asking him “to take whatever is being offered and close this chapter forever after that”.

Fazal Lakhani, elder brother of Faizan Ahmed Lakhani who died in the fire, came straight to the point.

“There’s no justice. I don’t have the time or the energy to run around in courts. I accepted the money as I don’t see the court proceedings, whenever or if ever it starts, to go anywhere. Culprits have never been sentenced. It has never happened and I think it never will. So, while I’m alive and can still provide for my family, I made this decision.”

What also compelled him to make the decision of accepting the compensation was the thought that their relatives, who still work at the facility, might be “harassed by the company,” he adds. The documents which Fazal signed recently, promise him the compensation money, while also adding that he won’t pursue a case against Gerry’s Dnata or mention the company anywhere on any forum after receiving the cash.

Residing in Bantva Nagar near Gharibabad, Fazal hesitates to speak about his brother, but says, “I have to be practical for my family’s sake. Pursuing a legal case will rob us of whatever little we have made for ourselves.”

A spokesman for Gerry’s Dnata declined to comment.

Published in Dawn, August 3rd , 2014