Murree tragedy case verdict expected today

Court summons officers concerned for hearing

RAWALPINDI:

Lahore High Court Rawalpindi bench judge Chaudhry Abdul Aziz adjourned the hearing in the Murree tragedy case till Saturday.

The verdict in the case is expected to be announced on Saturday. The judge has ruled that those who have destroyed the paradise of Pakistan (Murree) will not be forgiven. The judge has directed the anti-corruption director-general to immediately inquire into illegal constructions and irregularities in Murree and submit a report to the court.

A separate verdict will also be issued against those who were found negligent during the Murree tragedy and made transfer and posting. The court has directed the Chief Officer Municipal Corporation Murree and the Chief Officer District Council to submit an affidavit, stating that no construction was taking place in Murree after they filed a report in the court.

The court has also directed the divisional forest officer to submit an affidavit stating that there was no deforestation in Murree forests. The wildlife department has also been ordered to file a similar affidavit.

While the court has also sought detailed records of all government lands of the forest department, buildings constructed in forests and a complete record of Jhega Gali parking plaza. Officers of all agencies concerned had also been directed to remain present in the courtroom on Saturday. Despite a weekly off in courts, the Murree tragedy case has been fixed for hearing on Saturday.

At least 23 people lost their lives because of a strong blizzard that swept through the hill resort in January last year.

The initial investigation report was made public last year which had pointed to the failure of relevant government departments in taking pre-emptive measures in light of the warnings issued by the Met Office. The probe had also uncovered that the measures were not taken to regulate the influx of tourists.

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The initial findings of the five-member committee to investigate the causes and lapses that led to the tragedy in Murree had pointed to the failure of relevant government departments to take pre-emptive measures in light of the warnings issued by the Met Office.

The metrological department in its advisory, issued on January 6, 2021, had deemed the weather unsafe with clear forewarnings about an imminent snowstorm, directing the concerned departments to block the roads leading to the tourist spot – the site of the tragic incident that claimed 22 lives on January 9, 2021.

“All authorities concerned are particularly advised to remain ‘alert’ during the forecast period,” the Met Office had stated.

The advisory had called for precautionary measures and asked the authorities to brace up for heavy snowfall. In addition, the preliminary findings of the inquiry committee had also identified a range of other causes that resulted in the tragic incident, including the failure to formulate a joint plan of action to prevent a crisis following the warnings by the Met Office.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 7^th, 2022.