Court reserves decision in Murree incident case

The Lahore High Court’s Rawalpindi bench has completed the hearing of petitions against the Murree incident and reserved its decision which will be announced next week.

During the hearing held on Saturday, Justice Chaudhry Abdul Aziz rejected the reports of all the agencies concerned and strongly reprimanded the officers who had submitted the reports. "We have eaten this country," he said.

He added that Rs1.5 billion was released for a parking plaza in Murree which was devoured. Where did this money go? This money is not from anyone's father's estate; it is the money of the labourers' blood and sweat, he said.

The court in its remarks further said that the money has been mercilessly embezzled in the style of corrupt elites found in the Mughal Empire. It added that it was shameful that some elements were not tired of eating money and that they were cancer to society.

Murree's environment has been destroyed by some elements but it is deplorable concerned institutions concerned were unmoved, the court said in its remarks, adding that authorities and institutions were nowhere to be seen when the people were dying due to heavy snowfall in Murree.

The court in its remarks inquired as to how many billions of rupees have been ripped off from the country. The court hinted that the case will also be sent to Punjab Anti-Corruption Establishment.

Those who ate money and did not work will all be brought to book, the court said, adding that anyone who did wrong would not be spared.

The court had fixed Saturday for hearing the petitions despite the holiday. When the hearing started, officers of all 13 authorities concerned were also present in the courtroom. Petitioner Jalil Akhtar Abbasi Advocate said that Nespak has admitted that Rs1.5 billion was released for a parking plaza while locals received Rs120 million. Three kanals of land was allotted for a parking plaza but no parking plaza was constructed. The court ruled that if the idea of a parking plaza was decided and money was allocated then how did it all end. Where did all this money go?

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Is it the Mughal Empire era where money would be eaten like this? the court inquired in its remarks.

Reprimanding the forest department officials, the court said that firewood was frequently being stolen but no measures were taken. The court rejected reports from the district administration, CNW, the Highway Authority and the NHA. The court also questioned how could a firm from the United Kingdom was paid Rs2.4 million.

Addressing Divisional Forest Officer of Murree, the court inquired as to when he has been posted in Murree. There was a safari park in Murree. What is it made of? A lion called Raja or Tipu was gifted by a citizen. Where is this lion? The court itself replied that two years after this lion was gifted the generous citizen came to the safari park and asked to see the lion. When he went in, the lion was near death and died on the same day. This is the performance of officials of the forest department, the court said while addressing the wildlife officer.

The court ruled that the reports of all the institutions were fictitious. No authority or institution has taken the Murree tragedy seriously. The court also demanded as to how many trees have been planted in Murree during the Billion Tree Tsunami.

The court also directed the Director General of AntiCorruption Establishment to conduct an inquiry into the Murree tragedy deaths.

Later, Murree Bar petitioner Jalil Akhtar Abbasi Advocate while talking to the media said that these petitions were filed on January 7 after the Murree incident and 24 hearings were held so far after which the court has reserved its verdict which is expect4d to be announced next week. The court has rejected the reports of all the 13 authorities concerned and departments.