Pakistan still investigating helicopter crash

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SEPANG: The investigation by Pakistan authorities on the helicopter crash in the Naltar valley, northern Pakistan, which killed six people including the wife of the Malaysia High Commissioner to Pakistan, Datin Habibah Mahmud, is still on going.

Pakistan’s Minister of State for Federal Education and Professional Training Muhammad Baligh-ur-Rehman said investigation was still going on although earlier findings showed the incident was caused by technical faulty.

“Pakistan will submit a report to Malaysia once the formal investigation is completed,” he told reporters at the Bunga Raya Complex, KL International Airport (KLIA) here today.

Muhammad had accompanied the remains of Habibah from Islamabad to KLIA on Pakistan Air Force flight 0977 which arrived at 9.25 pm.

The remains was received at KLIA by Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Hamzah Zainuddin.

Habibah’s remains was driven to Batu Pahat tonight and would be buried in Parit Yusof Darat cemetery in Kampung Parit Masjid, Parit Yusof, Muar tomorrow morning.

Accompanying Habibah’s remains from Islamabad was the Malaysia High Commissioner to Pakistan, Datuk Dr Hasrul Sani Mujtabar.

Meanwhile, Hamzah said Malaysia thanked the Pakistan government for the assistance in bringing back Habibah’s remains.

Habibah was among six people killed when the helicopter carrying a diplomatic delegation crashed in Naltar Valley in the Gilgit-Baltistan region on May 8.

Also killed in the helicopter crash were the Norwegian and Philippine ambassadors, the wife of Indonesian ambassador and the helicopter’s two pilots.

The ill-fated helicopter was carrying a group of foreign envoys and their wives to attend an official programme hosted by the Pakistani government.

Media reported that Taliban terrorists claimed responsibility for the crash.

However, the Pakistan army denied the claim. — BERNAMA