CAIRO: The unidentified bodies of 102 persons, including 88 Pakistanis, who died in the Pakistan International Airlines Boeing 720-B jetliner crash here on Thursday, were interred in a mass burial this morning [May 22] at Cairo’s Kurdy cemetery. Only two wreathes stood forlornly against a stone wall as the bodies were laid side by side in the graveyard. An Egyptian Imam conducted the Namaz-i-Janaza. There were no Christian priests present. A PIA spokesman said it was likely that a memorial would be erected by Pakistan in the graveyard. Present at the mass burial were Air Vice-Marshal Nur Khan, Managing Director of PIA, UAR Civil Aviation officials, a representative of [the] Cairo Governor and about 500 mourners.

Relatives of Pakistanis killed in the crash — one of the worst ever air disasters — said all personal possessions had been removed from the mutilated bodies and identification had been impossible. Of the 19 identified bodies, six were Pakistanis, one German, two Czechs, one Lebanese and six Chinese nationals, who were on their way to Geneva. Of the six Pakistanis who could be identified four bodies have been flown to Karachi. The bodies of the other two Pakistani victims Mrs Mecklai and Mr Lobo of the Universal Express of Karachi, were buried at Cairo on the request of their families. The PIA was making arrangements to fly the identified bodies of the foreigners to their respective countries. This is being done through the courtesy of their Embassies in Cairo. The identification of the bodies of the foreigners was done by PIA with the assistance of diplomats. Meanwhile, the Chief Controller of Cairo Airport told the international inquiry commission today that the pilot of the “Boeing” did not inform the control tower that one of his engines was on fire before the accident. He had in effect reported no incident.

Published in Dawn, May 23rd, 2015

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