



In a bid to express solidarity with the families of victims of target and sectarian killings, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz has invited affected families from across the country to apply for an education package introduced by the Punjab chief minister.





The invitation was extended by PML-N leader Marvi Memon at a news conference on Monday. Memon condemned the killing of innocent people and held the federal and provincial governments, save the Punjab government, responsible for such incidents.“We hold the federal and provincial governments of Sindh, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan and Gilgit-Baltistan equally responsible for the failure of law and order,” said Memon, who recently returned from a countrywide tour to offer condolences to victims’ families on the instructions of Nawaz Sharif.While explaining the details of the chief minister’s education package, Memon said the Punjab government would provide free education to one child of every victim family at an institution of their choice.“There cannot be any compensation for the lives lost in such incidents but this initiative is aimed at securing [the families’] future,” said Memon.When asked whether the education package would be available for families of drone attack victims, Memon said the proposal would be presented before the leadership for their inclusion as well.Asked about the budgetary details of the education package, Memon said the Punjab government was presently receiving applications and she did not have exact details at this juncture, adding that the amount spent on every child would vary depending on preferences in educational institutions.The PML-N leader decried attacks on Shias and attempts to destabilise sectarian harmony in the country.Published in The Express Tribune, August 28, 2012.