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ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Wednesday said the Bhoja plane crash was a national tragedy and assured a transparent inquiry into it to the satisfaction of the heirs of the deceased.
“It is a national tragedy and we have no intention to hide anything from anybody. We also do not need to be apologetic on this issue,” he said in National Assembly in response to some serious concerns raised by Leader of the Opposition Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan.
“It is not an issue which does not have a solution. Our response was prompt. Our rescue and relief operation was unprecedented,” he added.
The Prime Minister said within 24 hours all the bodies were recovered and shifted to the PIMS (Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences). “I myself visited PIMS and met with the heirs of the deceased. I also had an aerial view of the crash site. I directed the interior minister to satisfy the aggrieved families.”
The opposition leader had criticised the government over inquiry of the incident during his speech earlier.
The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader also assailed Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira, who in his reply adviced the opposition to be patient and wait for a technical report of the investigation to arrive.
Kaira also reiterated the prime minister’s stand on the issue that the report will be made public.
Chaudhry Nisar then commented that the information minister was only trying to make his chair stable as he has been awarded the portfolio after a long wait.
Subsequently Speaker Fahmida Mirza had to adjourn the proceeding of the house to Thursday after members of the opposition boycotted the proceedings.
Harsh slogans were also exchanged between the members sitting on both sides of isle.
Earlier, the prime minister also said the whole nation was aggrieved on crash. When it happened, the Secretary Defence was in a meeting with him and he immediately asked for holding an inquiry keeping in view International Operating Procedures.
“I also directed to form a commission comprising technical people,” he said and added that it was time to show solidarity with the bereaved families.
Responding to the point raised by the opposition leader, the prime minister said if the opposition demanded debate on the issue, it should be in accordance with the rules and procedure.
