ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Thursday held funeral prayers for military personnel martyred in an army helicopter crash near Muzaffarabad, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and senior civilian and military leaders attending the ceremony, according to the military's media wing.
The funeral prayer was offered at Chaklala Garrison in Rawalpindi for the martyrs of the Mi-17 helicopter crash, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said.
PM Sharif, Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defense Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Defense Minister Khawaja Asif, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, senior civil and military officials, relatives of the martyrs, and members of the public attended the service.
The crash occurred Wednesday near Muzaffarabad, the capital of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, during takeoff.
The military said the helicopter went down because of a technical fault, and all personnel on board were martyred. A board of inquiry has been ordered to determine the exact cause of the accident.
Earlier in the day, a separate funeral service for two Christian soldiers martyred in the crash was held at Christ Church in Rawalpindi and attended by political and military leaders.
The ceremonies highlighted the participation of Pakistan's diverse communities in national service and remembrance.
Addressing the gathering, PM Sharif said the martyrs' "devotion to duty, professionalism, and commitment to safeguarding the motherland will remain a source of inspiration for future generations."
He said the sacrifices made by Pakistan's armed forces for "peace, security, and national sovereignty can never be forgotten," and reaffirmed the nation's support for the families of the martyrs.
The ISPR said the martyrs would be laid to rest in their respective hometowns with full military honors.
Separately, President Asif Ali Zardari and PM Sharif expressed grief over the crash and offered condolences to the families of the martyrs.
"The entire nation pays tribute to the great sacrifice of the martyrs and shares the grief of the families," Zardari said in a statement.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi also expressed condolences, extending sympathies to the families of the personnel martyred in the accident.
The military leadership, including Field Marshal Munir and all ranks of the Pakistan Army, expressed deep sorrow over the loss of life and conveyed condolences to the bereaved families.
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