GILGIT: Martyred Major Hussain Mohammad Irshad Mandoq was laid to rest with military honour in his native town in Skardu here on Sunday.

Major Irshad, 34, a resident of Ghanche district of Baltistan, was piloting an Army Aviation helicopter when it crashed in Astore on Saturday.

Co-pilot Major Ayaz Hussein from Karachi, Naik Inzimam Alam of Chakwal and Sepoy Mohammad Farooq of Sahiwal were also martyred in the crash.

The funeral prayers of army officer were held at the Army Aviation base in Skardu.

Commander FCNA Maj-Gen Ehsan Ali, who is also the brother of the martyred officer, a large number of civil and military officials attended the funeral prayers.

Later, the body was taken to Markazi Jamia Masjid in Skardu, where funeral prayers were also held. People from different walks of life, political leaders and religious scholars attended it. The body was later lowered in a graveyard in Aliabad.

A contingent of Pak Army presented guard of honour at the grave. Floral wreaths were also placed on the grave by Gilgit-Baltistan Governor Raja Jalal Hussain Maqpoon, chief secretary Khuram Shahzad Agha, the police chief and the Baltistan commissioner.

Martyred Major Mandoq leaves behind a wife and a three-year-old son. His third brother, Imran, is also serving in the army as a captain.

Published in Dawn, December 28th, 2020