ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) reprimanded on Thursday the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and said it is responsible for the Murree tragedy.
As many as 23 people, including children, died in Murree last week as heavy snow lashed the hill station, turning family vacations into a tragedy.
IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah was hearing of petition filed by Hammad Abbasi, a Murree resident, that sought action against those responsible for the tragedy.
Abbasi said he went to Murree on January 7 and that when tourists were going to the hill station, neither were they stopped and nor were they warned of the danger.
No NDMC meeting held since 2018
The IHC CJ called a member of the NDMA to the rostrum and asked him when the last meeting of the NDMC was held. At this, the official told the court that a meeting took place on February 21, 2013, and the last meeting was held on March 28, 2018.
After hearing the NDMA member’s response, Justice Minallah said all concerned people are part of the commission. “It is a powerful body. How come no meeting took place since 2018,” the IHC CJ questioned.
The prime minister, leaders of the Opposition in the Senate and National Assembly, ministers for foreign affairs, defence, health, interior, finance, communication, welfare and special education, communication, governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, chief ministers of all the provinces, AJK prime minister, chief minister Gilgit Baltistan, chairman JCSC, and chairman NDMA are part of the commission.
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