July 11, 2006	Tuesday	Jumadi-ul-Sani 14, 1427

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LAHORE, July 10: The chief justice of Pakistan, Punjab governor, chief justice of the Lahore High Court and chief minister have expressed grief and sorrow over the loss of life in a plane crash in Multan on Monday.

In a statement, Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry expressed profound grief and shock over the tragedy. Other judges of Supreme Court also offered condolences to the bereaved families, including that of two judges of the Lahore High Court, who were also among those killed in the crash.

Governor Khalid Maqbool, in a condolence message, prayed that May Allah rest departed souls in eternal peace and grant courage to bereaved families to bear this irreparable loss with fortitude.

Chief Justice of the Lahore High Court Iftikhar Husain Chaudhry has expressed deep grief and sorrow over the tragic incident.

In a message, he said the judges, who lost their lives with other people in the crash, were a symbol of humility, nobility and affection which endeared them to all those who were fortunate to meet them.

Praying that may Allah rest the departed souls in peace, Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi expressed sorrow over the incident.

He directed minister Rana Qasim Noon and adviser, Hafiz Iqbal Khakwani to visit the site.

Punjab Assembly Speaker Afzal Sahi also condoled the deaths of 45 people in the plane crash near Multan.

Meanwhile, the Punjab Bar Council and the Church of Pakistan also condoled the deaths and termed the deaths a national loss. The PBC announced day of mourning on Tuesday.

Leaders of various parties have expressed grief and sorrow over the tragic air crash near Multan on Monday in which all 45 people on board were killed.

In separate statements, they called for a comprehensive investigation into the incident.

Ruling PML president Chaudhry Shujaat Husain said the tragedy would be thoroughly investigated and the government would ensure that such incidents would not take place in the future.

He said the vacuum caused by the people killed in the incident would not be filled for long.

PML-N leaders Sirdar Zulfikar Khosa, general secretary Zaeem Qadri, Bilal Yasin and Ijaz Hafeez said in a statement that a committee should be set up under the chief justice of Pakistan to look into the matter.

The report of the committee should be made public, they said.

Former ministers Begum Abida Husain and Syed Fakhr Imam also expressed sorrow over the tragedy and prayed for the victims.

Khaksar Tehrik leaders Hameeduddin Mashraqi, Hafiz Manzoor Elahi, Hafiz Mehmudul Hasan and others also called for an investigation into the incident.

Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaaf chairman Imran Khan and district nazim Mian Amer Mahmood also condoled the deaths in plane crash near Multan.