MUREE, PAKISTAN - JANUARY 8: Army and civil rescuers work to rescue tourists stranded after heavy snow storm in Murree, a hill station between Islamabad Pakistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) on January 8, 2022, in Muree, Pakistan. Some 21 tourists have lost their lives over the past two days after their vehicles were trapped due to heavy snowfall in a famous hill station near capital Islamabad. (Photo by Stringer/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
Alt: Usman Buzdar/CM Punjab Suspends 15 Officials Over Negligence in Murree Tragedy
Punjab Chief Minister, Sardar Usman Bazdar, has removed 15 officers from their posts, finding them guilty of the Murree tragedy. The decision was made over the investigation report. The administration also ordered disciplinary action against the officials.
A five-member committee was formed in the wake of the recent deaths of at least 23 tourists stranded on the roads of the hill station during a snow storm.
The committee submitted its report to the provincial chief minister, pointing out the negligence and mistakes made by the officers concerned that caused the tragedy.
The officials include the Commissioner Rawalpindi, Deputy Commissioner Rawalpindi, AC Murree, Chief Traffic Officer Rawalpindi, City Police Officer Rawalpindi, Assistant Superintendent of Police Murree, Assistant Commissioner Murree, SP Highway Circle, DSP Traffic Murree, In-charge Rescue 1122 Murree, Director Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Punjab, Divisional Forest Officer, District Emergency Officer 1122 Rawalpindi, SE Highway Rawalpindi, SDO Highway Mechanical Murree, and Rawalpindi Highway XEN.
Addressing a press conference in Lahore, CM Buzdar said, “I made a promise to the nation, that action would be taken against those responsible for Murree’s tragedy, and I fulfilled my promise.”