15 officials suspended over negligence in Murree tragedy

Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Bazdar on Wednesday removed 15 officers from their posts in the light of Murree tragedy investigation report and ordered disciplinary action against them.

A five-member committee – formed in the wake of the recent death of at least 23 tourists stranded on the roads of the hill station during a blizzard –submitted its report to the provincial chief executive, pointing out the negligence and mistakes made by the officers concerned that caused the tragedy.

The officials include the Rawalpindi commissioner, Rawalpindi deputy commissioner, Rawalpindi chief traffic officer, Rawalpindi city police officer, Murree assistant superintendent of police, Murree assistant commissioner, SP Highway Circle, DSP Traffic Murree, In-charge Rescue 1122 Murree, Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Punjab director, divisional forest officer, district emergency officer 1122 Rawalpindi, SE Highway Rawalpindi, SDO Highway Mechanical Murree and Rawalpindi Highway XEN.

Read more: Murree tragedy inquiry report faces delay

Addressing a news conference, Buzdar told the media that action was being taken against the 15 officers by removing them from their posts in the light of recommendations of the inquiry committee.

He added that the Rawalpindi commissioner, deputy commissioner and Murree ASP had been removed from their posts and sent to the federal government. “It has also been recommended to suspend them and disciplinary action be taken against them.”

The Punjab CM said the Murree assistant commissioner, Rawalpindi CTO and other officers had been suspended. “Disciplinary action has been ordered against them.”

Buzdar said the tragedy that took place in Murree was extremely painful in all respects and a high-level inquiry committee headed by the additional chief secretary (home) was formed to determine the causes and those responsible for this mishap.

He said he personally visited the site to review the situation.

“I had promised a transparent inquiry into the tragedy along with action against those responsible. This has been fulfilled.”

Provincial Law Minister Raja Muhammad Basharat and CM’s spokesperson Hasaan Khawar were also present at the news conference.

The report read that due to the negligence of the officers at the time of the tragedy, it seems as if all the departments were asleep.

It further disclosed that machinery was available but half the staff was absent. The highways and building department was also neglecting its responsibilities.

The committee also recorded statements from officials, residents and tourists in its 27-page report.

The report revealed that the officers of the departments concerned kept informing each other about the situation through WhatsApp but did not take any action.

The officers could neither understand the situation nor did they take it seriously.

The report stated that many officers also saw the WhatsApp messages late. The CCPO, CTO, commissioner, deputy commissioner and assistant commissioner showed irresponsibility. The local office of Rescue 1122 including the forest department did not take any action.

The inquiry committee has recommended setting up a regular office of the meteorological department in Murree and widening of its roads by demolishing illegal structures to avoid such untoward incidents in future.

According to the report, Murree has been turned into lanes because of encroachments, causing regular traffic jams there.

The inquiry committee had recorded the statements of government officials and surviving tourists and prepared the report on January 16. It was presented to the Punjab chief minister the next day.