LAHORE: The Punjab government has identified “gross negligence, lack of cooperation and team performance and risk assessment” as the reasons leading to the deaths of needy tourists in Murree on Jan. 8, and suspended a series of orders, including the Rawalpindi section. commission, for failing to prevent this tragedy.
The disappearance that led to the deaths of 23 people has been identified by a five-member executive committee, led by General Secretary (Home) Zafar Nasrullah. A four-volume investigation report and briefing was presented to the prime minister in his office on Wednesday evening.
Shortly afterwards, Prime Minister Usman Buzdar spoke at a press conference that lasted just over two minutes without any journalists present, and asserted that the full series of orders from the Rawalpindi unit had failed to perform its duties and could not identify future dangers.
In the committee’s recommendations, the CM said 15 officials had been suspended and disciplinary action was taken. The suspended members include Rawalpindi Commissioner Gulzar Husain Shah, Deputy Commissioner (DC) Muhammad Ali, Murree Assistant Commissioner Umer Maqbool, Rawalpindi City Police Officer (CPO) Sajid Kiyani and Murree Assistant Superintendent of Police Ahmad Shah. Their services are rendered to the coalition government for administrative reasons and strict disciplinary action is recommended.
The Prime Minister also announced the suspension and disciplinary hearing of Rawalpindi traffic chief executive officer, deputy superintendent of traffic police, Rawalpindi-II highway engineer, Rawalpindi (EXEN) chief engineer, EXEN highway, subway , Murree district forest officer, Murree regional emergency officer, Murree Rescue 1122 chief and director of Punjab PDMA.
“I have fulfilled my promise to conduct an honest and transparent investigation into the Murree tragedy and take action against all those whose negligence led to the deaths of 23 people who were forced to be trapped in their vehicles as it snowed on the night of Jan. 7, ”said the prime minister.
Mr Buzdar, accompanied by Justice Minister Basharat Raja and Special Assistant to Prime Minister Hasaan Khawar, said he had personally visited Murree to confirm the tragic situation created at the mountain station.
Sources said the full details of the report included statements from relatives of the deceased, trapped passengers, government officials and locals. The investigation committee found a lack of communication of any kind before the catastrophe and all the cold nights and frost the next day.
“There was no co-operation even during the rescue of those trapped in their vehicles as individual efforts were reported,” they said.
Sources said the public authorities did not conduct a risk assessment or follow any standard operating procedures prescribed for emergencies. The investigating committee reported that the snow removal equipment was inadequate and added to the damage to the equipment, most of the equipment was out of order.
Prior to the crisis, sources say that the management of the vehicles was completely ignored as thousands of vehicles were allowed to enter the mountain station due to bad weather. There was no proper information for visitors about the bad weather in the rented areas, about 17 miles down the hill.
Sources said no other traffic officers had been deployed to deal with the incredible traffic congestion during the snowstorm.
At that time, the Punjab government immediately sent a new commissioner to Rawalpindi, DC and the CPO to replace the transferred police for administrative purposes. Secretary of Youth Affairs and Sport Noorul Amin Mengal has been appointed commissioner of his salary and scale; Sialkot DC retired Flt Lt Tahir Farooq as Rawalpindi DC; and Rawalpindi Regional Police Chief Ashfaq Ahmad Khan was given an additional CPO case until a regular participant was sent.