In a statement apparently intended to convey remorse, Prime Minister Imran Khan caused an outcry on Twitter for linking the 19 deaths in the snowstorm in Murree with the “rush of people proceeding [to Murree] without checking weather conditions.”
“Shocked and upset at tragic deaths of tourists on road to Murree,” the premier wrote, “Unprecedented snowfall and rush of people proceeding without checking weather conditions caught district administration unprepared.”
Shocked & upset at tragic deaths of tourists on road to Murree. Unprecedented snowfall & rush of ppl proceeding without checking weather conditions caught district admin unprepared. Have ordered inquiry & putting in place strong regulation to ensure prevention of such tragedies.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) January 8, 2022
Many were astounded that the prime minister would place the responsibility of ensuring road safety on the tourists, rather than the government.
Victim blaming right from the top. Yea, guess what happens in peak winter season — snowfall. Guess who needs to prepare for that snowfall. https://t.co/0yBDfAf7Pc
— Ammar Khan (@rogueonomist) January 8, 2022
Oh my god this disgusting man is blaming the victims. These horrible people don’t now how to be ashamed in lives … yeh kaisay loag hein Tobah! There is nothing good about them. https://t.co/st5z1yQmIg
— Meena Gabeena (@gabeenaa) January 8, 2022
So it’s only visitors fault?What’s the mechanism to alert people who enter these areas? No responsibility of the gvt #Murree https://t.co/LLJQ9JZGym
— Asma Shirazi (@asmashirazi) January 8, 2022
Critiquing the government’s response, one post read, “If all the responsibility belongs to the people then what is the role of the government? Is the country running on auto pilot?”
سب ذمہ داری عوام کی ہی ہے تو حکومت کا کیا کام ہے؟ ملک آٹو پائلٹ پر چل رہا ہے؟
— Saadia Ahmed (@khwamkhwah) January 8, 2022
What happened in #Murree today is a study in failure of governance. It's also a study in failure to perceive, communicate and mitigate risk. The criminal state of apathy is sad statement on the decision makers and administrators at the helm. May the departed rest in peace.
— Imran Khalid (@imran2u) January 8, 2022
People dying 25 minutes from Islamabad because it was rushy and cold. If that isn’t sheer incompetence of the administration & the entire apparatus at work – what else is?
— Iftikhar Firdous (@IftikharFirdous) January 8, 2022
Just days before the tragedy, Information Minister Fawad Chaudry seemingly celebrated the government’s achievement of bringing tourism to Murree.
“Nearly one lakh vehicles have entered Murree. Rents of hotels and residences have gone up many times. This increase in tourism shows increase in prosperity and income of common man. One hundred big companies have made a profit of Rs. 929 billion this year. All major media groups account for 33 to 40 percent of profits,” the minister wrote on 5 January.
مری میں ایک لاکھ کے قریب گاڑیاں داخل ہو چکی ہیں ہوٹلوں اور اقامت گاہوں کے کرائے کئ گنا اوپر چلے گئے ہیں سیاحت میں یہ اضافہ عام آدمی کی خوشحالی اور آمدنی میں اضافے کو ظاہر کرتا ہے اس سال سو بڑی کمپنیوں نے 929 ارب روپے منافع کمایا تمام بڑے میڈیا گروپس 33سے چالیس فیصد منافع میں ہیں
— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) January 5, 2022
Many commenters opined that the government would need to do more to successfully attract tourism to Pakistan and keep tourists out of harm’s way.
This man repeatedly claims to be the biggest environmentalist ever to be born in the country. At the same time, he encourages commercial tourism and development projects in ecologically sensitive areas, and doesn’t know about the climatic conditions just north of the capital. https://t.co/xwBKtrJGbP
— Dawar Butt (@theLahorewala) January 8, 2022
https://twitter.com/norbalm/status/1479759484717355011
Heartbreaking news from Murree. You cannot boost tourism without providing the infrastructure necessary to support that, and employing strict policies to ensure the safety of people during extreme weather events. Losing entire families, stranded in their cars, is mind numbing.
— d kamal (@daanistan) January 8, 2022
