Air crash victims remembered on third anniversary

CHITRAL: On the third anniversary of PIA air crash, gloom and grief gripped Chitral valley on Saturday as people remembered their near and dear ones who lost their lives when the PK-661 returning to Islamabad from Chitral crashed near Havelian on Dec 7, 2016.

The crash had left dead its 47 passengers, including then Chitral DC Osama Warraich and singer-turned religious preacher Junaid Jamshed.

A number of functions were held in the town to remember the victims of the plane crash on its third anniversary.

People visited the graves located in Jang Bazaar, Chew Doke, Bakrabad , Drosh, Garam Chashma, Zait, Booni, Junali Koch, Lone, Brep and Morder and offered fateha for the departed souls.

A big function was held in Osama Shaheed Park at Mastuj Road where a wreath was placed on Yadgar-i-Shuhada by deputy commissioner Naveed Ahmed and DPO Waseem Riaz while a contingent of police presented salute.

Junaid Jamshed was also remembered as he had been in Chitral for 40 days along with a Tableeghi Jamaat before his death in the air crash.

The park named after ‘Osama Warraich Shaheed’ happened to be the first public park in the district which he had constructed without spending a penny from the government treasury and he had managed the resources from his friends and relatives it.

Mr Warraich was travelling in the plane along with his wife and an infant daughter, while Junaid Jamshed was accompanied by his wife.

Quran Khwani was held at a number of places, including Shahi Masjid, Osama Shaheed Career Academy and Government High School, Chitral, for eternal peace of the departed souls.

The people paid tribute to late Warraich for his accomplishments and measures, which included his crusade against encroachments of government land in the district.

Also, an entire family of six from Garam Chashma also died except Hasina Gul, who was then a grade-7 student, in the air crash.

Also read: Commission to probe PK 661 air crash