Gayari victims declared martyrs, search for bodies to continue: ISPR

Press Release

Rawalpindi, May 29: 52 days have passed since the tragic incident of Gayari. Notwithstanding the resolve of troops employed on search operations, excavation work is taking time due to constraints imposed by terrain and weather. Through their untiring efforts, bodies of three shuhada have been recovered, so far.

Nature and magnitude of the calamity is suggestive of no probability of recovering any person alive. In this back drop, religious leaders of prominence from all sects and factions were consulted. Aspects related to socio religious dimensions / implications, requirements to initiate the process of documentation, and reduction of the sufferings of the bereaved families have been evaluated in detail. From this deliberate exercise, it has been decided to declare the remaining brave soldiers as “shuhada”. This is being done with mixed feelings of pride, grief and above all unflinching resolve to continue all out efforts to recover the bodies of all shuhada.