ISLAMABAD, July 15: Former Punjab forest minister and central leader of Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) Raja Ishfaq Sarwar has deplored that Murree, one of the country’s top tourist attractions, had been robbed of its beauty because of massive deforestation and illegal constructions during the last six years, says a press release. Those who ruled the hill station during the last four years had a direct role in disfiguring the Queen of Mountains, Sarwar said in an obvious reference to the outgoing tehsil leadership.

He lamented that despite strict ban on construction in the city area, tall buildings and major structures were erected during these years with the connivance of the tehsil administration.

He said the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Environment had also expressed its concern over the environmental and ecological threat to the hill resort.

The four-time elected MPA from Murree said the exiled PML Quaid Nawaz Sharif had a very close association with the hill station. He said the former prime minister was desirous of making Murree as one of the most modern hill stations in the world without disturbing its natural beauty.

He said those who ruled Murree during the last four years in the name of people’s representatives were directly responsible for this colossal loss to the area.