Late Murad Sadpara’s family still awaits payment for K2 cleanup effort

GILGIT: The family of the late Murad Sadpara, the renowned Pakistani mountaineer who lost his life during an expedition on Broad Peak (8,051 metres) last year, is still awaiting the payment for his role in the historic K2 cleanup mission.

Sadpara, along with his team members Bashir Hussain, Shabbir Hussain, Akbar Sadpara, Muhammad Dilawar, and Basharat Hussain, conducted a massive cleanliness drive at 16 mountain sites, including K2 and Broad Peak last year.

The 50-day expedition, which reached an altitude of 7,300 meters, resulted in the collection of 1.727 tons of waste. The team was able to remove 500 kilograms of waste from the higher camps of K2. The mission, led by the renowned mountaineer Naila Kiani, garnered international attention, showcasing Pakistan’s commitment to preserving the environment in the highest mountain ranges.

However, despite the success of the mission and the international recognition it received, Murad Sadpara and his colleagues have yet to receive their payments for their efforts.

Sadpara, who tragically passed away in a rockfall while climbing Broad Peak with Portuguese climber Maria Conceição, was honoured posthumously by the government of Pakistan with the Sitara-e-Imtiaz.

The family has approached the Shigar deputy commissioner (DC), seeking his help for the payment.

In an application to the Shigar DC, his widow, Zainab Bibi, along with his brother-in-law, Nasir Hussain, expressed their deep frustration over the matter. They highlighted that the company, Luxus Treks and Tours, which held the NOC and provided funding for the mission, has failed to release the agreed-upon wage, despite numerous follow-ups. The family, based in Sadpara village, continues to live in difficult conditions, struggling to make ends meet.

“We have been waiting for Murad’s salary. He worked as the climbing team leader on a major project that received international attention, and it helped project a positive image of Pakistani mountaineering to the world. He risked his life to make that project successful,” the family said, questioning that “if is this the way a national hero should be treated”?

Naila Kiani admitted that not only were the climbers’ payments overdue, but logistics payments were also unpaid due to the stubbornness of the tour operator, Luxus Treks and Tours, whom she hired for the expedition. She said the tour operator was supposed to manage the whole expedition, including documentation, hotel bookings, flights, NOCs, and logistics, etc.

“I received some funds for the mission from an international sponsor, which I transferred to Luxus Treks and Tours out of trust, considering them a big name in the industry. When it came to fulfilling their commitments, it was utterly disappointing,” she added.

Kiani said that whenever she assigned tasks to the company, they failed to deliver despite having received all the expedition funds.  “From logistics to NOCs and permits, I personally managed them because of the tight schedule and their inability. They only booked the tickets,” she said.

The mother of two girls revealed that she was expecting a baby during this period, but unfortunately suffered a miscarriage.

“After the operation at the hospital, I went to the K2 basecamp because I wanted the project to succeed, as a lot of workers from humble backgrounds were involved. When I returned, I told them I couldn’t continue with them due to their inability to perform their tasks,” the only Pakistani woman to scale the world’s 12 highest peaks added.

Kiani said that in response, they withheld the money she had transferred to them. “After the intervention of the Shigar deputy commissioner, they released partial payments, which went to logistics, but the climbers remained unpaid, as they did not receive the remaining balance. Porters are typically paid at the end of expeditions,” she said.

Kiani said that when she spoke out against the injustice, instead of releasing the remaining payments, they filed a case against her.

“I’m highlighting this not because injustice has been done to me, but because it is damaging the country’s image and tourism. I’m also highlighting this because they are withholding payments from mountain heroes — those from humble backgrounds who risk their lives on these mountains,” she added.

When Shigar Deputy Commissioner Arif Hussain asked about the actions taken on the application submitted to him, he declined to comment, saying, “This matter is currently sub judice in civil court.”

When HUM News English contacted, Wazah Nadeem from Luxus Treks and Tours said that it was a legal matter, as the case is pending in court. However, he said that Naila Kiani is the one who has to make the payment to them.