ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: A day of mourning is being observed across Pakistan on Saturday in memory of those killed in yesterday’s military helicopter crash in Naltar Valley of Gilgit-Baltistan.
In the federal capital, national flags are flying at half-mast at government buildings including the Presidency, Parliament House, Supreme Court and the Prime Minister’s House.
On Friday, seven persons including Norwegian Ambassador Leif Holger Larsen and the Philippines Ambassador Domingo D. Lucenario were killed when a MI-17 helicopter carrying 17 persons crashed due to a technical fault while landing in Naltar.
Others who lost their lives in the tragic incident included wives of the Malaysian and Indonesian ambassadors, two Pakistan Army majors and a Subedar. While Ambassador of Indonesia Burhan Muhammad, Polish Ambassador Andrzej Ananicz, wife of the Polish envoy, Dutch Ambassador Marcel de Vink and Malaysian High Commissioner were injured.
Meanwhile, preparations have been completed to send the bodies of foreign diplomats to their home countries.
Following the incident on Friday, President Mamnoon Hussain and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif expressed grief over the loss of precious lives in the helicopter crash.
In their separate messages, they said that the government and people of Pakistan are deeply saddened over the tragic deaths. They directed the authorities concerned to provide best medical treatment to the injured.
Nawaz Sharif condoles with Norwegian counterpart
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif telephoned his Norwegian counterpart Erna Solberg on Saturday and condoled the sad demise of Norwegian Ambassador in the Naltar helicopter crash.
The prime minister said that the entire Pakistani nation is heartbroken on this incident and shares the grief and anguish of Norwegian nation.
Nawaz Sharif conveyed his personal condolences to the family of the deceased ambassador which the Norwegian prime minister promised to convey.
The Norwegian prime minister thanked Nawaz Sharif for his timely efforts and also for the decision of observing a day of mourning.
Nawaz Sharif condoles death of envoy’s wife with Malaysian counterpart
The Pakistani premier also telephoned his Malaysian counterpart Najib Razak and condoled the death of Malaysian Ambassador’s wife in the Naltar helicopter crash.
