Neltar Tragedy

The copter crash carrying the foreign envoys and their lady wives to Neltar for the opening ceremony of an event there and which would have been a memorable one for them most tragically turned out to be one of the gloomiest days in our history. Seven died that included two envoys and two lady wives of the other two envoys. Ten were reported injured and burnt some seriously. Prime Minister Mian Nawaz Sharif was to preside over the function and was nearly midway from the destination when he came to know of the crash. Surprisingly he decided to return to Islamabad instead of going ahead. How I wish he should have been the first one to reach the crash spot (and being already midway he could have), personally supervised the rescue work there, visited the injured in hospital or wherever they were and condoled with the foreign envoy spouses who had lost their husbands or the wives. After all they his guests and he had invited them to witness the event. Such a considerate act on hi! s part would have not only raised his stature internationally but would have also earned him the title of a leader who led from the front.

Col. Riaz Jafri (Retd)