Missing helicopter: Govt will ensure safe passage for crew: Shahbaz

CM visits families of crew of helicopter that crashed in Afghanistan

LAHORE: Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Friday visited the residences of three members of the crew of a provincial government helicopter that crash landed in Logar, Afghanistan, on Thursday.

Earlier, a spokesperson of the Afghan Taliban had confirmed that all six members of the helicopter’s crew were in their custody. He said the men were safe and a final decision about them would be taken by the central leadership.

Sharif met relatives of pilots Col (r) Shafiqur Rehman and Col (r) Safdar Husain at their residences in Askari-10 and State Life Housing Society, respectively. Later, he also visited flight engineer Col (r) Nasir Mahmood’s residence.

The chief minister expressed his sympathy with them and apprised them about the government’s efforts to ensure safe return of all crew to their homes. He also conveyed Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s message of support to the families and assured them that all resources were being used to ensure safety and well being of the crew.

The chief minister said that he had been extremely upset on hearing about the news of the helicopter crash. However, he said he was relieved to learn that the crew was safe. He said efforts were underway to ensure safe return of the crew. He said he was personally monitoring the situation and he was in contact with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Chief of the Army Staff General Raheel Sharif, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar and Prime Minister’s Special Assistant on Foreign Affairs Tariq Fatemi in this regard. “I hope we will hear good news very soon,” he said. He said the government would not hesitate in using all available resources for the purpose.

The families of the helicopter crew thanked the chief minister for his efforts for the recovery and return of their kin.

Separately, in his message on the occasion of the 44th Founders Day of the Senate, Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said the Senate was playing an important role to protect the rights of the federating units. He said the purpose of establishment of the Senate was to provide a platform with equal representation for all federating units.

Sharif said the Senate had played an active role in upholding the supremacy of the Constitution and ensuring continuity of the democratic process. He said the Senate should be strengthened to ensure effective legislation, a stable democracy and protection of peoples’ basic rights. He said the bright future of the country was tied to the supremacy of the Constitution and stability of democracy.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 6^th, 2016.