PK-661 crash: Victims' families make three demands from government

ISLAMABAD: Families of the victims of Pakistan International Airline (PIA) flight PK-661 crash, which claimed 47 lives, on Monday made three demands from the federal government, ARY News reported.

Holding a candlelight vigil and a daylong recitation of the Holy Quran gathering to pray for departed souls of tragic plane crash at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), Islamabad, the families put forth a charter of demand on behalf of all the victims’ families.

The three main demands of the family members are:

Relevant government authorities should ensure the speedy delivery of DNA test results and dead bodies to their respective heirs; as winter season is at its peak in Chitral

The government should, therefore, make proper arrangements to send the dead bodies to their respective areas by air or via ambulance through Lowari tunnel.

A free and fair inquiry into the incident should be initiated to unearth the reasons which resulted in the tragic incident.

Family members of the victims and scores of civil society activists including prominent community members, religious leaders and representatives of political parties were also present on this occasion.

The participants, who were carrying pictures of the departed souls and placards inscribed with Quranic verses “We surely belong to Allah and to Him we shall return”, recited Holy Quran, offered Fateha (prayers) and then participated in the candlelight vigil.

After one minute silence and collective prayers for the departed souls, civil society activists and family members of the plane crash victims addressed the gathering.

A participant of the event Shah Fahad said, “We are expecting the government authorities to co-operate and facilitate us in every way to lessen the burden of our grief and woe.”

Gul Nawaz, a relative of the plane crash victim, said the inquiry should be concluded as soon as possible as it is vital that the actual facts should be brought out and shared with the masses of the country.

“Although the prime minster has ordered a detailed, independent and transparent inquiry into the unfortunate PK 661 plane but I am not very optimistic about the transparency and authenticity of the findings,” said Gul Nawaz.

Earlier, on 07 December 2017, 47 people lost their lives when PIA flight PK 661 crashed near Havalian. The flight was on the way to Islamabad from Chitral.