PESHAWAR: A bench of the Peshawar High Court on Monday sought explanation from the provincial industries secretary on a contempt of court petition over delay in the payment of compensation to the traders affected by the 2013 bombing in Qissa Khwani Bazaar.

Justice Roohul Ameen Khan and Justice Younas Taheem fixed next hearing into the case for Nov 28 asking the industries secretary to explain position on why he had violated an earlier order of the court on payment of compensation to blast victims.

The contempt petition is filed by around 157 traders affected by the bombing.

They had earlier hled a petition with the high court against non-payment of the compensation announced by the Economic Revitalisation of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Fata (ERKF) project.

In the Sept 29, 2013 bombing carried out by terrorists through an explosives-nlled vehicle, over 40 people had died and dozens of shops and vehicles had suffered destruction or partially damage.

The ERKF project providing grantstorehabilitateandupgrade businesses affected by insurgency in Khyber Palchtunkhwa and Fata had pledged payment of compensation to the affected people.

It was administered by the World Bank and financed by the Multi-Donor Trust Fund (MDTF).

Ameer Nawaz, lawyer for the petitioners, said few weeks ago, a bench of the high court had disposed of the case of the petition-ers.

He said earlier, there were allegations of misappropriation in the said funds earmarked for the Qissa Khwani bombing victims and that the National Accountability Bureau began an inquiry into them.

The lawyer said while disposing of the petitioner, the bench had directed the NAB to continue with the inquiry but ordered distribution of compensation to the relevant tradersin 60 days.

He however said even 80 days after the issuance of the directions, the government had yet to distribute compensation.

A NAB prosecutor told the court that the bureau had completed inquiry into the case and would soon take action against the culpable officials.

Additional advocate general Qaisar Ali Shah requested thecourt to allow him two weeks to file replies to the petition on behalf of the industries secretary and otherrespondents.

Also, the bench sought explanation from the Peshawar deputy commissioner over the alleged irregularity in payment of that compensation to blast victims.

The petitioners claim the provincial government had provided Rs28.5 million to the district administration for payment to the victims of the Qissa Khwani Bazaar but the administration distributed only half of the amount to them.

Their lawyer Ameer Nawaz said the deputy commissioner had told his client petitioners last month thatthefundsforthe purposehad lapsed.

He insisted the funds had lapsed due to negligence on part of the district administration.