Victims remembered on second anniversary of PK- 661 air crash

CHITRAL: The people of Chitral on Friday remembered the victims of a PIA plane (PK-661) crash in Hevelian area which killed all 47 passengers on board, including five crew members and then deputy commissioner Osama Ahmed Warraich, flying from Chitral to Islamabad on Dec 7, 2016.
A number of functions were held to commemorate those perished in the air crash, particularly Mr Warraich, who had won over the hearts of people by his relentless work in different fields.
A large number of people turned up at the OsamaWarraich Park on Booni Road to attend the function in which floral wreaths were placed at the monument of the martyrs of the PK-661 flight crash by deputy commissioner Khurshid Alam Mehsud, DPO Furgan Bilal and Major Majeed of Chitral Scouts, followed by the salute by smart contingents of police and Chitral Levies.
The park was named after the deceased, which also happens to be thefirst public park in the district, which he had built without spending a penny from the government treasury and managed the resources from his friends and relatives.
Quran Khwani was held in different mosques of the town, including the Shahi Masjid, for the departed souls, while a function was held in Osama Shaheed Career Coaching Academy to remember the martyrs of the air accident.
The speakers described the accomplishments of Osama Warraich as revolutionary and said the bold steps taken by him in all the sectors of administration were unmatched.
Singer-turned evangelist Junaid Jamshed was also remembered by the people, who was also on the plane, returning home with his wife after spending two months in Chitral with Tableeghi Jamaat.
Prof Faiz Ahmed Warraich, the father of Osama Warraich, and the second wife of Junald Jamshid also addressed the function by telephone and expressed their sentiments.
The people also went to the graves of the plane crash victims across the district and lit candles and offered Fateha.
The plane crash had deprived Hasina, then a student of 8th class in Garam Chashma valley, of her entire family.
Subhanuddin, her neighbour, told Dawn by telephone that the forlorn girl had never returned to the village after the incident who had been admitted to a school in Islamabad by then federal government on the orders of the prime minister. –Dawn Correspondent