Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Monday announced Sitara-e-Pakistan to be conferred on the deceased diplomats of Norway and Philippines as well as the wives of Malaysia and Indonesia's envoys of, who lost their lives in last week helicopter crash in Gilgit's Naltar valley.
The Prime Minister was addressing a condolence reference held here at the Foreign Office in memory of those killed in the tragic helicopter crash. The ceremony was attended by cabinet members and diplomats of various countries. He expressed deep grief and sorrow over the tragic incident, saying that our hearts go out to the bereaved families. He also assured the foreign diplomats that the government and people of Pakistan stand by the entire diplomatic community in this hour of grief.
The premier said that he had already given instructions for transportation of mortal remains of the deceased and medical treatment to the injured on immediate basis. The Prime Minister said that Foreign Office had also been directed to liaise with its missions abroad and relevant departments to ensure speedy and timely completion of all formalities. According to him, the diplomats who lost their lives in the Naltar incident were strong supporters of forging closer relations between Pakistan and their respective countries.
Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry, in his address, expressed the grief and sorrow over the tragic incident, adding that it was a loss which no one can describe especially for the Foreign Office as we had developed such a close and warm friendship with the deceased. He read out obituaries of the four members of the diplomatic community killed in the helicopter crash. Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, Ambassador of Argentina Rodolfo Martin Saravia, while addressing the ceremony said that the tour of diplomats was arranged at his request to appreciate beauty of the northern Pakistan and pay tributes to those engaged in operation Zarb-e-Azb.
Rejecting the rumours of any possibility of terror act, the diplomat categorically stated that the accident was caused by technical and mechanical failure of helicopter, adding that by no means there was an iota of possibility of act of terrorism or sabotage. He thanked Pakistan's government for support and facilitation both in Gilgit and Islamabad extended to affected people. Earlier, a one-minute silence was observed by the participants of the reference in memory of those killed in Naltar copter crash.
The Prime Minister also met three bereaved families of the Naltar incident including those from Norway, Malaysia and Indonesia at the Foreign Office. Talking to them, he expressed deep grief and sorrow over the tragic Naltar incident. Meanwhile, Adviser to the Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Syed Tariq Fatemi visited the Embassies of the Philippines, Norway, Indonesia and Malaysia to offer condolences over the loss of precious lives in the tragic helicopter crash in Naltar on 8 May 2015, and to sign the Condolence Books.
They expressed profound sorrow and grief on behalf of the Government and the people of Pakistan at the sad demise of the Ambassadors of the Philippines and Norway, and the spouses of the Ambassadors of Indonesia and Malaysia. They emphasized that the entire Pakistani nation was deeply saddened over the tragedy, and shared the anguish and pain of the bereaved families.