ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari on Wednesday expressed his deep grief and sorrow over the death of Pakistani pilgrims in a bus accident in Iran.
In a statement, he prayed to Allah Almighty for peace for the departed souls, early recovery of the wounded people, and strength for the bereaved families to bear the loss. The President issued directives the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to make all arrangements to bring back the bodies at the earliest and ensure timely treatment to those wounded in the mishap.
At least 35 Pakistani pilgrims have been killed and 15 others injured after a bus carrying pilgrims met with an accident in Yazd, Iran. Iranian media reported that the ill-fated bus overturned and caught fire near Taftan-Dehshir check point.
The bus, which had around 50 passengers on board, met with the mishap yesterday night. Police and rescue officials rushed to the site after the accident. Local media reported that bodies and wounded people have been shifted to the hospital. An emergency has been imposed at hospitals across the city to treat the wounded. The crash occurred Tuesday night in Yazd, said Mohammad Ali Malekzadeh, a local emergency official said. Iranian state media blamed the crash on the bus brakes failing and a lack of attention by its driver.
In Pakistan, local media reports cited a local leader, Qamar Abbas, saying 35 people had passed away in the accident. He described those on the bus as coming from Larkana, Sindh. Reports said that Pakistani pilgrims had been on their way to Iraq.
