Struck by tragedy: Only memories remain for victims’ families, friends

Amongst those who lost their lives were a family of six, two best friends, and a newly-wed couple.

KARACHI:

The families of Mohammad Irfan and Imran Waheed would tease them for being inseparable. On Friday, the families were united in their grief as they mourned their deaths in the Bhoja Air plane crash.

“Even in death they were with one another, setting the greatest example of what friendship is,” said Abdul Manan, Imran’s brother.

The two grew up playing cricket together and set up a marble production business as adults.

“People saw the plane on fire before crashing. I saw human pieces scattered all over the place, but thank God my brother’s body was intact,” said Manan, who had returned from Islamabad with a coffin.

Among the couples who were en route to Islamabad for their honeymoon were Sufia and Syed Muhammad Rizwan, who tied the knot on February 19.

“I can’t believe she is gone. She promised she would come back after 10 days. We had never imagined she would come home like this,” said Sufia’s brother Atiq, as he stood in a narrow lane in Liaquatabad.

Sufia wanted to have lots of kids, her family recalled. “Only memories of my niece are left,” said her uncle. “All is gone now.”

In Gulberg, a sister-in-law realised how much can change in a week. “Last Saturday we had a one-dish party, and this Saturday, we are mourning their loss,” Saman said, recalling time spent with her brother-in-law’s family. Adeel Ahmed Chughtai, his wife Asma, and their four children – one aged six – died in the crash.  Asked if the families would push for an investigation, Saman laughed sadly: “Investigation? What investigation? There can be no impartial inquiry in this country.”

Published in The Express Tribune, April 22^nd, 2012.