PIA plane crash: DNA tests to be completed in 10 days: minister

Sindh Information Minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah has said the process of getting DNA samples of the family members of ill-fated plane crash victims had been started immediately after the crash at the forensic lab of Karachi University. "To help the victims' family members immediately, help desks were also set up at Jinnah and Civil hospitals, which could not be seen by our critics due to prejudice," he added.
Nasir Shah was speaking at a press conference on Tuesday. Sindh Education Minister Saeed Ghani was also present during the press conference. The information minister said DNA samples were being examined at the International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences of Karachi University.
Syed Nasir Hussain Shah said DNA tests would be completed in ten days. He told that DNA experts from Punjab were called without informing the Sindh government, adding that if the Sindh government needed the DNA experts from Punjab, it could have requested for the same by itself. The provincial Information Minister said the Sindh government provided all necessary facilities after the plane crash.
Syed Nasir Hussain Shah said all necessary and best medical facilities were being provided to the residents of the area injured in the plane crash. In addition to this, the damage to the houses in this tragic accident was also being estimated, he added. Syed Nasir Hussain Shah said Sindh government was well aware of its responsibilities, adding that it stood by the victims' families, and would not leave them alone.
The minister said apart from criticizing the Sindh government, the PTI government should conduct a transparent investigation into the plane crash incident and should not prolong the issue. He said it was not the PPP's policy to endanger the lives of media persons just for the sake of photo sessions.
Addressing the PTI leaders, the provincial Information minister said they should refrain from politicizing a tragic accident and not lie. Speaking on the occasion, Sindh Education Minister Saeed Ghani said he objected to the committee formed to investigate the plane crash. He said it was strange that the pilot of ill-fated plane, Sajjad Gul, was portrayed as a hero one day and as a villain very next day.
He said who would give clarification on behalf of the unfortunate plane's pilot when he himself had lost his life. Saeed Ghani said some people were going to offer condolences to the families of those martyred in the plane crash just for a photo session, while the Sindh government's representatives had been quietly visiting the victims' families.
Meanwhile, Sindh Information Minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah and provincial government spokesperson Barrister Murtaza Wahab offered condolences to the families of plane crash victims and those who died of the Covid-19 on Eid. The two leaders visited the homes of the martyrs and spent some time with their families.
Talking to the families of the martyrs on the occasion, Syed Nasir Hussain Shah said although their loved ones who had passed away could not be brought back, but in this hour of grief, the Sindh government was with them and would help in every possible way. He also conveyed the condolence message of PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari to the families of victims.
Syed Nasir Hussain Shah and Barrister Murtaza Wahab offered Fateha for the victims of plane crash and also prayed for their forgiveness. In addition, the provincial minister and adviser visited three women admitted in Burns Ward, who worked in the houses situated near Jinnah Ground, where the ill-fated plane was crashed, and gave them Rs 100,000 each on behalf of the Sindh government. The two leaders also visited the other injured people and assured them of full cooperation from the Sindh government.
Syed Nasir Hussain Shah said the Sindh government was paying for the treatment of the all the injured. The provincial Information Minister said the bodies of all the victims would be handed over to their heirs after the DNA test.