CHITRAL: Gloom and grief gripped Chitral valley on Saturday as the people remembered their near and dear ones who had perished in the PK-661 plane crash. The crash had left dead its 47 passengers, including then Chitral DC Osama Warraich and singer-turned Naat Khwan and religious preacher Junaid Jamshed.

A number of functions were held in the town to remember the victims of the plane crash on its third anniversary while people visited the graves located in Jang Bazaar, Chew Doke, Bakrabad , Drosh, Garam Chashma, Zait, Booni, Junali Koch, Lone, Brep and Morder and offered fateha for the departed souls.

A big function was held in Osama Shaheed Park at Booni Road where floral wreath was placed on Yadgar-i-Shuhada by deputy commissioner Naveed Ahmed and DPO Waseem Riaz, while a contingent of police presented salute.

The local people on this occasion could not conceal their tears while remembering the young head of the district administration who had worked closely with them for their wellbeing.

Junaid Jamshed was also remembered as he had been here for 40 days along with a Tableeghi Jamaat before his death in the plane crash.

The park named after ‘OsamaWarraich Shaheed’ happened to be the first public park in the district which he had constructed without spending a penny from the government treasury and he had managed the resources from his friends and relatives it.

Mr Warraich was travelling in the plane along with his wife and an infant daughter, while Junaid Jamshed was accompanied by his wife.

Quran Khwani was held at a number of places, including Shahi Masjid, Osama Shaheed Career Academy and Government High School, Chitral, for eternal peace of the departed souls.

The people paid tribute to late Warraich for his accomplishments and measures, which included his crusade against encroachments of government land in the district.

Also, an entire family of six from Garam Chashma had perished except Hasina Gul, who was then a grade-7 student and left behind, in the incident.

Published in Dawn, December 8th, 2019