Airblue management fails to address concerns of air crash affectees
Despite lapse of one year, investigation report of the crash has not yet been made public, said convener of Airblue Crash Affectees Group (ACAG) Junaid Hamid said while addressing a press conference here at Daman-e-Koh.
He said the owner of the Airblue has failed to fulfill commitments he had made with the bereaved families. "We were assured that a monument will be built at crash site and H-11 graveyard where 72 unidentified persons have been buried, but these promises have not been fulfilled yet."
He said it was the demand of the victims' families that third party should be nominated to investigate into the crash. He said DNA report has also not been shared with the victims families.
Junaid Hamid, whose wife was killed in the crash said that not a single investigation report of past air crashes in the country has ever been made public.
Haris Lodhi whose mother was amongst the 152 passengers on board while talking to APP said there are 72 unmarked graves in Islamabad and he will lay a floral wreath and say a prayer at each of them because he does not know in which one his mother had been buried.
We are bereaved people and not a single day passes without remembering the loved ones we lost on the fateful day,he added.
Iftikhar Ahmed, who lost his newly-wed daughter Romaisa said: "We should be informed what happened to our loved ones." Ghafoor Gul said that he had lost five family members but he had not yet received insurance and compensation amount as assured by the authorities.
Col (r) Shafiq-ullah whose son was on the board while talking to this agency said, "We want transparent investigation of the incident, we do not believe that it was the error of the pilot since he is dead and not in a position to deny the allegations".
However, he said he had received compensation from Airblue,the Prime Minister and insurance company. Talking to media, Chief Executive of Airblue Shahid Khaqan Abbasi asked the government to make public report of the crash.
He said management of the Airblue spent about Rs. 40 million in carrying out the investigation. "Investigation report of the incident was ready in eight and a half month".
He said Multan crash investigation report was prepared in 36 months. Khaqan Abbasi said Airblue has handed over compensation to 50 victims' families while other cases are in process.
He said about 30 victims' families have received Rs.0.5 million announced by the Prime Minister. Around 60 affected families had received 5 million insurance an amount while 40 case is in process.
Airblue Chief Executive said family members of the ill-fated passengers from across the country have been brought by the Airline to attend condolence gathering here at Daman-e-Koh.
The Airblue has constructed monument inscribed with the names of the victims. The families have also visited the monument. Quran Khawani was also arranged by the Airblue in a local hotel.
Copyright APP (Associated Press of Pakistan), 2011