Politicians blame govt for Murree tragedy

Say deaths could have been averted if tourists were informed

KARACHI:

Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP) chairman Syed Mustafa Kamal has expressed deep sorrow over the death of 19 people, who were stuck in a severe traffic jam, due to heavy snowfall in Murree.

In a statement issued from Pakistan House, he said that despite the timely issuance of the alert by the Meteorological Department, the government and the administration had failed to prevent the tragedy.

“Such a tragedy would not have happened if the government had informed tourists about the serious situation in time,” the PSP chairman said.

Expressing heartfelt condolences and sympathy to the families of the victims, the PSP chairman urged them to be patient. Kamal also appealed to residents of the area to open the doors of their homes for the distressed people.

Read Tourists make a beeline for Murree

Meanwhile, Mufti Noman Naeem, chancellor of Jamia Binoria International, said that the Murree tragedy seems to be the result of incompetence and indifference of relevant authorities.

“Many lives could have been saved if attention had been paid to precautionary measures. Today’s tragedy has saddened the entire nation. It is unfortunate that such an incident has taken place at a popular tourist destination of the country, where people come from all over the world,” he said.

In a statement issued from Jamia Binoria International on Saturday, Mufti Noman Naeem expressed his condolences to the families of the victims. Sindh Information and Labour Minister Saeed Ghani has said that a case against the Murree tragedy should be registered against federal ministers, the Punjab government and Murree administration.

Also, Pakistan Peoples Party leader and Sindh Assembly member Sharmila Farooqi expressed regret over the Murree tragedy and raised several questions.

In a statement released on Twitter, Sharmila Farooqi said, “Terrible shocking news has come from Murree. More than 20 tourists died in the snow.” “Who is responsible for these deaths? Administrative cooperation, lack of rescue facilities or this incompetent government which promotes tourism without ensuring adequate rescue facilities?” she questioned.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 9^th, 2022.