KARACHI: A shocking tragedy struck at the Karachi Airport yesterday [Nov 1] morning during the welcome ceremony for the Polish President, Marshal Marian Spychalski, who arrived here from Rawalpindi.

In the twinkling of an eye the gay and festive ... ceremony was turned into a grim tragedy which took the life of the Deputy Foreign Minister of Poland, Mr Zygfryd Wolniak, two local photo­graphers — Mr M. Yasin, Photo Editor of the APP and Mr Ashraf Beg photographer of the Press Inf­ormation Department, and the Deputy Direc­tor of the Intelligence Bureau, Chaudhri Nazir Ahmad.

The inexplicable tragedy occurred when a PIA catering van rammed into the receiving line of VIPs, who had gone to receive the visiting dignitary just as the Polish President was shaking hands with them. …

President Spychalski left for home at 3.15 p.m., about four hours after the ghastly airport tragedy. Madame Spychalski and the President’s entourage also left by special plane. The body of Mr Wolniak was also taken to Poland in the same plane. …

The Polish President had earlier cancelled all his programmes and cut short his visit because of the airport incident. All the while he remained in the airport VIP lounge.

Published in Dawn, November 2nd, 2020