Murree dwellers have defended themselves with accounts of helping stranded tourists after a barrage of people called for boycotting Murree after hoteliers reportedly hiked prices, which left passengers to ride out the snowstorm in their cars on Saturday.
A deadly snowstorm ravaged Murree and Galiyat with about four feet of snow, with several tourists caught in heavy traffic caused by the inclement weather conditions and high influx of tourists in the area. At least 22 people died, many of whom were poisoned by carbon monoxide gas when they sat in their cars awaiting the roads to get cleared.
Several reports circulated that hotel operators in Murree allegedly jacked up prices of their rooms, which had guests turning away to rough it out in their vehicles in the traffic jam. These reports raised a call from netizens to avoid tourism in Murree.
Pakistan Awami Tehreek Secretary General Khurram Nawaz Gandapur followed along the call to boycott and said that no one should head towards the hill station for one season, until hotel operators submitted acceptable price listings to the Murree administration.
If the Public Boycotts Murree for one season only & until the Hotel & Restaurant owners agree to a Price List along with a receipt system with the officials of Murree Administration, there is no other way to control this INHUMAN MAFIA. #BoycottMurree
— Khurram Nawaz Gandapur (@GandapurPAT) January 10, 2022
Journalist Sana Jamal said that people “always complained but never boycott”, adding that Murree was expensive and there was nothing noteworthy there to go for.
People always complain but never boycott. #Murree
— Sana Jamal (@Sana_Jamal) January 9, 2022
Another journalist Ihtisham ul Haq pointed out that Murree’s businessmen were ruthless and exploited desperate people in the middle of a calamity. He added that the government must penalize the businessmen, and everyone should boycott Murree.
The businessmen of Murree are cruel. They don’t have any humanity, their hearts are made of stone. They only know one thing, looting money from those who are desperate & in need. The govt must fine them some how & the people should boycott Murree. #Murree
— Ihtisham Ul Haq (@iihtishamm) January 10, 2022
As the fury directed towards Murree intensified, several dwellers took to Twitter to defend themselves, many narrating how they or those they knew helped tourists during crisis.
A local said that he was tired of people blaming Murree dwellers as the locals provided assistance, including shelter, wherever possible, asserting that it was locals who found the demised tourists and urged authorities to take note. He added that the events unfolded on a main road not far from a rescue centre to strengthen his point that the crisis was just mismanagement as no one reached the site in time.
I'm sick of this constant hate and threats, we locals provided food and shelter to as many as we could. Us locals discovered the bodies and begged authorities to come. All of this happened in my village not a remote area but MAIN NATHIAGALI ROAD. This was pure mismanagement.
— Rumpoptarts. (@rumpoptarts) January 10, 2022
Another user pointed out that his office landlord in Islamabad was from Murree and upon hearing about the devastation in his hometown, he ordered people from his village to knock down the entrance to his house so abandoned tourists could find shelter.
Our office landlord in #Islamabad is from #Murree. He lives in #Islamabad but has his own fully furnished house there. Knowing that the tragedy is setting in, he called his ppl in the village to break the front door of his house so families needing shelter could be accommodated.
— Shahzad Ahmad (@sirkup) January 10, 2022
Investigative journalist Waseem Abbasi too pointed out that locals helped those stuck on the roads. He posted a video of a locals who carried relief packages to the people in Kuldana road, adding that those who abused Murree should see the helpful side of its residents too.
سب لوگ برے نہیں ہوتے۔۔ مری والوں کو گالیاں دینے والے یہ بھی دیکھیں۔۔
مری کے مقامی لوگ امدادی سامان لے کر مہمانوں کی مدد کے لیے کلڈنہ پہنچ گئے۔۔ بس یہی جذبہ سلامت رہے۔ اللہ کے لیے ایک دوسرے کی مدد۔۔ pic.twitter.com/IKFFctXCYa— Waseem Abbasi (@Wabbasi007) January 8, 2022