“The government needs to come out with a proper explanation for the failure that caused the helicopter accident in Gilgit, which killed and injured ambassadors, their spouses and Pakistani pilots,” said Ambassador

Roldolfo Martin Saravia, Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, at a condolence meeting in Islamabad last Friday, two weeks after the tragedy.

He said this was not only important to the diplomatic community; it is also important to the Pakistan Government. “It must be proven that it was not done by the terrorists.”

“If there were mistakes, we must find them and draw lessons for the future,” he said.

Irshadullah Khan, who hosted the meeting on behalf of the Oxbridge Society, also underlined the need for finding the causes.

“We cannot allow Pakistan to be known as a country of tragedy,” he said.

He also drew attention to the recent tragedy in Karachi. He then read two poems which he had written specifically for the condolence meeting, paying tribute to the slain diplomats and civilians.

The Romanian ambassador, Ian Emilion, who survived the accident uninjured, spoke at the somber meeting, thanking God for having been spared, grieving those who had passed away or been injured.

Maj-Gen Hafeezur Rehman represented the Pakistan government at the condolence meeting, which was attended by more than 200 diplomats, government officials and members of the civil society.

Published in Dawn, May 24th, 2015

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