Social media marketing campaign over military copter crash ‘unacceptable’: ISPR

The Pakistan Military on Friday regretted over the social media marketing campaign following the unlucky helicopter crash in Balochistan on August 1, an announcement issued by the Inter-Companies Public Relations (ISPR) mentioned.

Based on the army’s media wing, the marketing campaign has “brought about deep anguish and misery amongst martyred households and rank and file of the armed forces”.

“Whereas the entire nation stood by the establishment on this tough time, sure insensitive quarters resorted to hurtful and derogatory feedback on social media which is unacceptable and extremely condemnable,” the ISPR added.

Learn extra: Martyrdom of six officers confirmed as ISPR says wreckage of lacking copter discovered

The helicopter went lacking after shedding contact with the air visitors management on Monday. The army mounted a search operation which was stymied by the tough mountainous terrain of Lasbela district.

On Tuesday, the wreckage of the helicopter was present in a coastal district of the province and not one of the six officers and crew on board may survive the crash, the army’s media wing mentioned.

Commander 12 Corps Lieutenant Normal Sarfaraz Ali, Main Normal Amjad Hanif, Brigadier Muhammad Khalid, Main Saeed Ahmed, Main M Talha Manan and Naik Mudassar Fayyaz had been on board the Mi-17 helicopter of Military Aviation.

Lt Gen Ali was supervising aid operations in Balochistan, which has been hit onerous by flash floods triggered by the heavy monsoon rains within the province.

“The wreckage of the unlucky helicopter which was on flood aid operations has been present in Musa Goth, Windar, Lasbela [district of Balochistan],” DG ISPR Maj Gen Babar Iftikhar wrote on his verified Twitter deal with.

“All six officers and troopers, together with Lt Gen Sarfaraz Ali embraced shahadat [martyrdom],” it added within the tweet. “As per preliminary investigations, the accident occurred resulting from dangerous climate.”

Learn: Copter with military common on board goes lacking

On Wednesday, Chief of Military Employees (COAS) Normal Qamar Javed Bajwa attended the funeral prayers of Lieutenant Normal Sarfraz Ali, Main Normal Amjad Hanif and Brigadier Muhammad Khalid who embraced martyrdom within the crash.

Based on the army’s media wing, the COAS visited the households of Lt Gen Ali and Brig Khalid in addition to the household of Lt Colonel Laiq Baig Mirza who embraced martyrdom in Ziarat.

The mortal stays of the martyrs’ crash had been moved to Rawalpindi via helicopter. The martyrs had been buried with full army honours, the ISPR added.