Mass burial of unidentified crash victims likely

The possibility will be discussed at a meeting between the victims' relatives and the Islamabad administration.

ISLAMABAD: At a meeting between the relatives of the victims of the Airblue crash and the Islamabad administration on Friday, the possibility of a collective burial of those passengers whose remains could not be identified through DNA tests will be discussed, said officials of the Islamabad administration.

“We have requested the management of the Airblue to arrange a meeting of these relatives with us. Whatever they suggest, we will act upon it,” said Deputy Commissioner Islamabad Amir Ali Ahmed.

Officials said that the administration has received results of 30 DNA samples out of the 276 sent for tests to the Kahuta Research Laboratories (KRL) Hospital. Five of these could not be matched while 12 bodies have been handed over to relatives. The remaining body parts are still unmatched. “The doctors have informed us that some body parts were difficult to match. We have no facility other than DNA to identify these remains,” said the DC Islamabad.

Doctors at the KRL Hospital said that certain body parts were so badly burnt that DNA samples could not be properly taken. “It is almost impossible to match some DNA samples with those of their relatives because of the condition of the tissues,” said an administration official. “There is no other option than a collective burial of the remains,” he added.

Officials said that the idea of a collective burial has already been floated. “Some relatives have already suggested that a monument be erected at the place of the burial where they could offer Fateha for their loved ones,” said an official.

Airblue is in process of informing relatives about the meeting with Islamabad administration. “The airline is also endorsing the idea of a collective burial as the only viable option in their talks with the relatives,” said a relative of Haider Zulfiqar who had died in the plane crash. The meeting on Friday, according to one administration official, will only be a formality and is likely to give a go-ahead for a collective burial.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 12^th, 2010.