Zardari slammed PTI govt over death of citizens

LAHORE, Jan 09 (DNA): Co-chairman Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and
former president of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari slammed Pakistan
Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) government over death of citizens pertaining to
the Murree incident.

While expressing his sympathy and condolences to the bereaved families
in Murree, he said that the incident is very painful and added that he,
equally shares the grief of the bereaved families.

He went on to say that the failure of the government to take timely
action is reprehensible. Due to the inefficiency of the government, the
innocent citizens lost their lives.

Earlier on Jan 8, the preliminary report of the tragic incident that
took place in Murree was presented to Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Sardar
Usman Bazdar.

According to sources, the report submitted to the Punjab chief minister
said that Murree has the capacity to park 32,000 vehicles, while more
than 72,000 vehicles entered Murree on Thursday.

The report also stated that the tourists parked their vehicles on the
side of the roads after parking space ended.

Earlier, at least 22 people died in an enormous traffic jam caused by
tens of thousands of visitors thronging a Murree to see unusually heavy
snowfall, authorities said.

Police reported that at least eight people had frozen to death in their
cars, while it was not immediately clear if others had died from
asphyxiation after inhaling exhaust fumes in snow-bound vehicles.

Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid said the military had mobilised to clear
roads and rescue thousands still trapped near Murree, around 70
kilometres (45 miles) northeast of the capital, Islamabad.

Video shared on social media showed cars packed bumper-to-bumper, with
one-metre-high (three-foot) piles of snow on their roofs. “The heavy
snowfall caused a traffic jam and the closure of roads,” Babar Khan, a
tourist who was stranded for hours, said. “Roads were also closed due to
falling trees in many places.”

The website of Pakistan s National Weather Forecasting Centre said heavy
snowfall was expected in the area until Sunday afternoon, while
Information Minister Fawad Chaudry said “decades” of weather records had
been broken in the last 48 hours.

The Punjab province chief minister s office said the surroundings had
been declared a “disaster area” and urged people to stay away.

Prime Minister Imran Khan said he was shocked and upset at the tragedy.
“Unprecedented snowfall & rush of ppl proceeding without checking
weather conditions caught district admin unprepared,” he tweeted. “Have
ordered inquiry & putting in place strong regulation to ensure
prevention of such tragedies.”

Authorities warned last weekend that too many vehicles were trying to
enter Murree, but that failed to discourage hordes of daytrippers from
the capital. “It s not only the tourists, but the local population is
also facing severe problems,” Usman Abbasi, another stranded visitor
said.

“Gas cylinders have run out and drinking water is not available in most
areas — it s either frozen or the water pipes have been damaged due to
severe cold.” He said hotels were running out of food, and mobile phone
services were patchy. “People are facing a terrible situation.” DNA

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