ABBOTTABAD/CHITRAL: The residents of Abbottabad and Chitral were seen gloomy on Thursday as they were on December 7 last year when the news of the crash of PK-661 was broke to them which killed 47 passengers including five crew members.

In Abbottabad, local people and students of different schools paid visit to the site of the crash near Batolni village known as Ghukkan De Gali, Havelian and offered fateha for the departed souls of the victims.

They also laid floral wreaths on the crash site. A large number of women also visited the site. They recited the Holy Quran and distributed food and other items among people.

The people gathered at the site said that they were ready to construct a monument there. The residents of the surrounding areas still remember the day when they witnessed the plane crash. “It was around 4:18pm when we saw the plane coming downward. After two minutes it hit the ground and caught fire,” they said.

In Chitral, thousands of people thronged the Shaheed Osama Park to remember the crash victims, who included Osama Ahmed Warraich, the popular deputy commissioner of Chitral. No person was seen in the park without tears in his eyes. They had gathered there to commemorate the popular officer on the first anniversary of the plane crash that was arranged by the district administration and Chitral police.

Floral wreath was placed on the Yadgar-i-Osama. The park was named after Osama Warraich after his demise. It happens to be the first public park in the district set up by Osama Warraich without spending a penny from the government kitty as he managed the resources through his friends and relatives.

The participants also thronged Shahi Masjid to recite the Holy Quran. A function was also held in the auditorium of the government high school that was also attended by district nazim Maghfirat Shah, deputy commissioner, DPO and commandant of Chitral Scouts.

Glowing tributes were paid to Osama Warraich by the speakers. They recalled his accomplishment and revolutionary measures and administrative reforms which included his crusade against encroachments on government land throughout the district.

The people also went to the graves of the crash victims in Jang Bazar, Chew Doke and Bakrabad in the town, Drosh, Garam Chashma, Zait, Booni, Junali Koch, Lone, Brep and Morder and lighted candles. They also offered fateha for the departed souls of the victims.

Singer-turned evangelist Junaid Jamshed, who was also one of the crash victims and was returning home with his wife after spending two months in Chitral with Tableeghi Jamaat, was also remembered by the people.

Published in Dawn, December 8th, 2017