15 officers removed from posts over Murree tragedy, says Buzdar

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar announced on Wednesday the removal of 15 officers from their posts, including the Commissioner Rawalpindi Division, Deputy Commissioner, CPO and AC Murree, over negligence in line with the recommendations of the committee that probed the Murree tragedy.

Twenty-two tourists had been killed earlier this month after their vehicles stranded in a snowstorm in Murree hill resort. Following the incident, the government had constituted a five-member committee to probe the incident.

The chief minister at a news conference said in light of inquiry report into the Murree incident, the action was being initiated against the officers besides their removal from posts.

Buzdar said a high-level inquiry committee headed by Additional Chief Secretary (Home) was constituted to determine causes and those responsible for the incident.

The chief minister said the Commissioner Rawalpindi Division had been removed from his post and directed to report to the federal government and it was also recommended to suspend him. The DC Rawalpindi was also removed and his services and handed over to the federal government. It had been recommended the officer should be suspended and a disciplinary action be taken against him, he said.

Buzdar said the Assistant Commissioner Murree had also been suspended and a disciplinary action had been ordered against him whereas ASP Murree had been removed from his post and his services had also been handed over to the federal government besides recommending his suspension and disciplinary action.

The chief minister said the CTO Rawalpindi, DSP Traffic, SE Highways Circle-2 Rawalpindi, XEN Highway Rawalpindi, XEN Highway Mechanical Rawalpindi, SDO Highway Mechanical Murree, Divisional Forest Officer Murree, District Emergency Officer Murree, Incharge Murree Rescue 1122 and Director PDMA Punjab had also been suspended and disciplinary action had been ordered against them.

Chief Minister Buzdar said the Murree incident was sad and extremely painful in all respects and he himself had gone there to review the situation. He said the government had promised a transparent inquiry into the tragedy along with action against those responsible which had been fulfilled.