President, PM express grief over Pakistan Army MI-17 helicopter crash

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday expressed deep grief and sorrow over the Pakistan Army’s MI-17 helicopter crash near Muzaffarabad.

In separate statements, the president and the prime minister extended their heartfelt sympathies to the families of those martyred in the accident.

“The entire nation pays tribute to the great sacrifice of the martyrs and shares the grief of the bereaved families,” President Asif Ali Zardari said.

Paying tribute to the personnel who embraced martyrdom in the crash, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that the entire nation salutes the brave soldiers for their sacrifices.

Both leaders prayed for the elevation of the martyrs’ ranks in Jannah and for strength and patience for the bereaved families to bear the loss.

Earlier, A Pakistan Army Aviation Mi-17 helicopter crashed near Muzaffarabad on Monday during take-off due to a technical fault, according to official sources.

The helicopter went down shortly after take-off, resulting in the martyrdom of all personnel on board. Authorities confirmed that there were no survivors in the tragic accident.

Rescue and recovery teams were immediately dispatched to the crash site and launched operations to recover the wreckage and the bodies of the victims.

The Pakistan Army has ordered a board of inquiry to determine the exact technical cause of the crash. Investigators will examine all aspects of the incident to establish what led to the fatal accident.

Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), and all ranks of the Pakistan Army expressed profound grief over the loss of precious lives. They extended their heartfelt condolences and sympathies to the families of the martyrs during this difficult time.