ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Monday recommended that Sitara-i-Pakistan be conferred upon the diplomats who were killed in the Naltar crash on Friday.

Addressing a reference held in Islamabad to honour the victims of the Naltar crash,the premier expressed deep grief and sorrow over the tragic incident. “Our hearts go out to the bereaved families,” he added.

Nawaz said the government and people of Pakistan stand by entire diplomatic community in the hour of grief.

The premier said he has already given instructions for transportation of mortal remains of the deceased and medical treatment to the injured on immediate basis. Foreign Office has also been directed to liaise with its missions abroad and relevant departments to ensure speedy and timely completion of all formalities.

Nawaz announced award of Sitara-i-Pakistan to the deceased ambassadors of Norway and Philippines and deceased wives of ambassadors of Malaysia and Indonesia.

The event was attended by members of the federal cabinet and members of the diplomatic corps in Islamabad.

Speaking on the occasion, Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry said the tragic incident resulted in unprecedented loss, especially for the Foreign Office, which had developed a close and warm friendship with the deceased.

He also read out obituaries of the four members of the diplomatic community killed in the helicopter crash.

Speaking on this occasion, Dean of the Diplomatic Corps and Ambassador of Argentina Rodolfo Martin Saravia said the tour of diplomats was arranged at his request to appreciate beauty of the northern Pakistan and pay tributes to those engaged in operation Zarb-e-Azb.

He categorically stated that the accident was caused by technical and mechanical failure of helicopter. He said by no means there was an iota of possibility of act of terrorism or sabotage.

He thanked Pakistan government for support and facilitation both in Gilgit and Islamabad extended to affected people.

A one minute silence was observed by the participants of the reference in memory of those killed in Naltar copter crash.

Ambassador of Philippines Domingo D Lucenario Jr, Ambassador of Norway Leif Larsen and the wives of the Malaysian and Indonesian ambassadors were among seven people killed in the helicopter crash in Naltar Valley in the Gilgit-Baltistan region.

Two pilots and a crew member were among those killed when the Pakistan Army helicopter crash-landed on a school in Naltar Valley, Director-General Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major-General Asim Bajwa said. Media reports identified the two pilots as Major Altamash and Major Faisal.

Injuries were also reported from the incident in which Dutch ambassador Marcel de Vink and Polish ambassador Andrzej Ananicz were injured.