Acting on the Murree investigation commission’s report, Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar on Wednesday ordered the suspension of 15 officials for being negligent towards their duties.
Addressing a press conference in Lahore, the chief minister revealed the findings of the report and said that Rawalpindi’s deputy commissioner has been removed and disciplinary action has been ordered against him.
The Murree assistant commissioner has also been suspended along with assistant superintendent of police (ASP), he said.
Chief Minister Buzdar said that the Rawalpindi chief traffic officer (CTO), traffic deputy superintendent of police (DSP), Murree divisional forest officer, Murree district emergency officer, Murree Rescue 1122 incharge and Punjab Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) director have also been suspended and disciplinary action has been ordered against them.
The chief minister said that disciplinary action has been ordered against these 15 officers over the Murree tragedy as “authorities concerned were unable to perform their duties.”
“The government has fulfilled its promise of a transparent inquiry into the Murree tragedy,” Buzdar said, adding the inquiry report has highlighted the shortcomings of the authorities.
At the outset of the press conference, the chief minister said a high-level committee, headed by Punjab Additional Chief Secretary Zafar Nasarullah, had been constituted to investigate the Murree incident.
The committee’s report, he said, highlighted “negligence” on part of relevant officials.
“The officials concerned failed to fulfil their duties,” he said, citing the report.
The chief minister said he had promised a “transparent inquiry” of the Murree incident and that action would be taken against those responsible for the tragedy.
“I have fulfilled my promised,” he added.
On January 8, 23 tourists had died due to carbon monoxide poisoning while being stuck in their cars as thousands of vehicles ended up being stranded in Murree due to heavy snowfall.
