At least 22 tourists died in the Murree tragedy, which was caused by Rescue 1122, the Punjab Highway Department, and the Punjab Disaster Management Authority (PDMA). Justice Chaudhry Abdul Aziz of the Lahore High Court (LHC) Rawalpindi Bench held these organisations accountable and urged the government to take action.
These instructions were given by the judge as she rendered her decision in the case four months prior. The 80-page comprehensive ruling, which includes the current judgment, will be made public on November 7th, 2022.
He added that all illegal structures in Murree had to be taken down as soon as possible.
He introduced a system of categories to distinguish between guest houses and hotels in Murree, emphasising the need for a process for hotels and for the rents to be fixed. In order to relieve traffic congestion, he also directed the construction of parking spaces away from the hill resort.
The Judge also emphasised that the government needed to improve and that the Rs. 800,000 compensation given to families who lost loved ones was insufficient.
In order to help tourists and residents, the court also mandated the creation of a special department to clean the district’s sewage and drains during the winter.
The court also recommended that the government investigate the case of employees who were wrongfully suspended during the investigation into the tragic accident last winter.
Justice Abdul Aziz added that officials who knew about the unexpected snowstorm and were in possession of PMD’s information needed to face serious legal consequences.
It’s important to keep in mind that on January 9, 2022, a snowstorm at the hill station claimed the lives of 23 tourists, including men, women, and children.
The initial investigation report, which was made public, made reference to the failure of important government ministries to respond proactively to Met Office warnings. Additionally, the investigation showed that no attempts were made to manage the influx of tourists.
The LHC Rawalpindi Bench postponed making a decision in the Murree disaster case on May 7. The High Court heard the case in a total of 24 sessions.
A joint investigation committee was established by the then-chief minister of Punjab, Sardar Usman Khan Buzdar, and it suspended 15 people, including the former commissioner and deputy commissioner of the Rawalpindi division.
