Gilani meets family of Lt Col Tanvir; expresses solidarity over Siachen avalanche tragedy

RAWALPINDI: Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on Friday met the family of Lieutenant Colonel Tanvir ul Hassan to express solidarity with them over the avalanche incident at Siachen.

Lt Col Tanvir ul Hassan, the Commanding Officer of the 6 Northern Light Infantry, is among the 138 soldiers and civilians buried under a massive avalanche at Gayari sector in Siachen.

The Prime Minister was accompanied by Minister for Capital Administration and Development Nazar Mohammad Gondal and Special Assistance to Prime Minister Shahnaz Wazir Ali.

Prime Minister Gilani's meeting with the family of Lt Col Tanvir took place at the Rear Headquarters of Force Command Northern Areas (FCNA), where on arrival he was received by Corps Commander of 10 Corps Lt Gen Khalid Nawaz Khan.

Gilani met Lt Col Tanvir's mother, wife, brother and children aged 14, 11 and 6 years and comforted them. He said the nation was proud of its valiant soldiers and stood along them in the hour of trial.

The mother of Lt Col Tanvir requested Prime Minister Gilani to pray for the safety of his son, to which he apprised that the whole nation was observing Youm-e-Dua today on the appeal of Defence Committee of Cabinet, to seek Allah's blessings for those buried under tons of avalanche.

"We are with you in praying for the blessings of Allah Almighty. Every possible effort is being made. InshaAllah, Allah will do better," Gilani told the family.

He lauded the courage and zeal of the officers and Jawans of the Pakistan Army, who brave the extremities of the weather at Siachen, to defend their motherland.

He said the nation would never forget the sacrifices of its armed forces.