BAHAWALPUR, Pakistan: Inquiry ordered to be conducted to find facts into Ahmedpur Sharqia oil tanker fire happened on June 25 could not be completed and furnished to the government so far, official sources confirmed.
Local official sources told the state-run news agency that an inquiry committee was formed to conducted inquiry into oil tanker fire incident took place in Ahmedpur Sharqia, some 40 kilometers from here on June 25 which claimed over 220 lives including women and children and injured several others.
“The inquiry committee members stayed in Bahawalpur for several days and later, they returned back to Lahore, but their inquiry was yet to be completed and furnished despite passage of one month,” they said.
Meanwhile, civil society representatives raised question on the performance of inquiry committee. They said that Chief Minister, Punjab, Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif formed inquiry committee on June 26 and assigned task to it to complete report within five days. “CM Punjab assigned task to the inquiry committee to conduct investigation into Ahmedpur Sharqi oil tanker fire and complete its work within five days,” said, Imran Yousaf, a local social leader.
Another social leader, Syed Israr Shah said that Chief Minister Punjab himself should take notice why the inquiry committee could not complete and furnish its report despite passage of one month time. He said that the Punjab government should also take step for establishment of burn unit at Bahawal Victoria Hospital Bahawalpur. “Several injured lost their lives as they could not be provided immediate medical first aid due to non-availability of burn unit at BVH,” he said.
Zeeshan Lakhwera said that it was responsibility of inquiry committee to fix responsibility on those responsible for oil tanker fire incident of Ahmedpur Sharqia.
“The government should ensure that the elements responsible for committing negligence in Ahmedpur Sharqia fire would not be spared,” he said.