IHC summons NDMA officials in relation to Murree tragedy

0
107
IHC summons NDMA officials in relation to Murree tragedy

Jan 13, 2022: Islamabad High Court (IHC) summons NDMA officials in case related to Murree tragedy investigation and action against those responsible.

The court today summoned NDMA officials on a petition filed in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) seeking an inquiry into the Murree tragedy.

Following the summons, members of NDMA appeared before the Islamabad High Court. Chief Justice of the Islamabad High Court Atharmanullah remarked that the court had asked them to read the law of NDMA. The judge reminded the authority of their roles in case of a natural calamity and referred to the 22 lives lost as a result of extreme weather conditions.

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) heard a petition seeking investigation into the Murree tragedy and action against those responsible. During the hearing, the petitioner took the position that the tourists were not stopped by the administration nor did they warn of the danger of blizzard.

Chief Justice Athar Minallah remarked whether the NDMA had ever held a meeting in this regard. It should have had a regular management plan. He further questioned the authority, saying, Has National  Disaster Management ever met? Have there ever been meetings of provincial bodies? Member NDMA said that a meeting was held on February 21, 2013. The second meeting was held on March 28, 2018.

The court said, “Did any leader of the opposition call a meeting of the petition commission?” On which the member NDMA said that no opposition leader had asked us to call a meeting.

Chief Justice Athar Minallah remarked that there could be a more powerful body than this. Once the Director General wrote to the government that if there is a disaster tomorrow, we will be held responsible.

The Chief Justice, while questioning the representative of NDMA, said that there is such a strong law that it places responsibility for even the responsible persons of each district. It is the NDMA responsibility to have meetings of this body and to enforce the law.

During the hearing, counsel for the petitioner said that the petition was filed in the public interest. The court summoned the deputy attorney general to the rostrum and directed him to read out the laws pertaining to NDMA.

The Chief Justice said that if there was any meeting of NDMA in this regard, there should have been a formal management plan in this regard. If the meeting did not take place then why it did not take place. Earlier, a petition was also filed against Assistant Commissioner Murree, DC Rawalpindi and CTO in Civil Lines Police Station, Rawalpindi. The Meteorological Department had earlier predicted snowfall and rush of tourists. The administration made timely arrangements but the deaths were due to negligence of the administration.

The petitioner said that Assistant Commissioner Murree, CTO, DCO and 1122 have been responsible for the loss of precious lives and property of the people due to their negligence and carelessness.

Stay tuned to BaaghiTV for latest news and Updates!

COVID-19: Pakistan’s positivity reaches an alarming 6.12% in the last 24 hours

Leave a reply