Commander southern command Lt-Gen Sarfaraz Ali was on board the Army Aviation helicopter along with 5 others.
By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: There is no word on the whereabouts of a military helicopter carrying a top Pakistan army general that went incommunicado shortly after taking off from Quetta Monday.
Carrying Commander XII Corps Lt-Gen Sarfaraz Ali and his staff, the helicopter left Quetta some time this afternoon, but lost contact with ground authorities soon afterwards.
The XII Corps is a Pakistan Army corps currently stationed in Quetta, Balochistan – which is why it is nickered Quetta Corps. An ISPR press note issued late in the evening said:
“A Pakistan army aviation helicopter which was on flood relief operations in Lasbela, Balochistan lost contact with ATC.
“6 individuals were on board including Commander 12 Corps who was supervising flood relief operations in Balochistan. Search operation is underway.”
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has expressed his deep concern over the Army Aviation going missing earlier Monday. He prayed to Allah for the protection of the brave sons of soil out on a flood relief mission.
Balochistan has been inundated by severe flooding after heavy monsoon rains. Military and civilian authorities are carrying out relief operations in the flood hit areas.
The province is also a hotbed of insurgency with several groups like BLA (Baloch Liberation Army), BLF (Baloch Liberation Front), etc., mounting attacks on strategic targets from their mountain hideouts.
However, no such group has claimed responsibility for any incident involving the helicopter as of now.
A search is on for the missing chopper, without any success so far. The official passenger manifest says on board the aircraft are Commander 12 Corps, DG PCG Brig Amjad (promoted Maj-Gen, last SB 1), CC Engrs 12 Corps Brig Khalid, Maj Saeed (Pilot), Maj Talha (Co Pilot), and Crew Cheif Nk Mudassir.
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