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PIA Aircraft Crashes Enroute To Islamabad, No Survivors, Singer Junaid Jamshed Dead

Darpan News Desk IANS, 07 Dec, 2016 09:40 AM
    Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight PK-661 carrying 48 passengers and crew crashed on the way to Islamabad from Chitral on Wednesday at 4:42pm PST. The Civil Aviation Authority confirmed there are no survivors from the ill-fated flight.
     
    Thirty six bodies have been recovered from the wreckage.
     
    The passenger list confirmed there were 31 men, 9 women and 2 infants on board the flight, including singer-cum-evangelist Junaid Jamshed and his family, as well as three foreigners.
     

    Former singer Junaid Jamshed and his wife Nayha Junaid were on board Pakistan International Airlines flight PK-661, which crashed on the way to Islamabad from Chitral today.
     
    According to photographs on his official Facebook page, Junaid Jamshed was in Chitral with friends.
     
    He was scheduled to deliver the Friday sermon at Parliament mosque. He was a prominent member of Pakistan's Tableeghi Jamaat, a global Islamic revivalist movement urging Muslims to return to Sunni Islam.
     

    Jamshed rocketed to fame in Pakistan in the 1980s and 1990s as the singer for the Vital Signs rock group, and later launched a solo career, with a string of chart-topping albums and hits.
     
    The ATR-42 aircraft departed from Chitral around 3:30pm and was expected to land at Islamabad's Benazir Bhutto International Airport at around 4:40pm but crashed in Havelian near Abbottabad shortly after a distress call was sent to the control tower.
     
     
    Tributes poured in as news of his death flashed across screens. Here are some reactions:
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    PAKISTAN ACTORS MOURN THE DEATH OF JUNAID JAMSHED
     
    Popular Pakistani actor Fakhr-e-Alam and model-turned-actress Urwa Hocane were among the first few celebrities who mourned for renowned singer and preacher Junaid Jamshed, who died in a plane crash in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Wednesday.
     
    Junaid's family - his wife and their three children - were also believed to be on board Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight PK-661. 
     
    Shocked by the tragic death of his dear friend, actor Fakhr-e-Alam wrote on his Twitter page: "Dear Junaid, I shall cherish all our memories together. Prayers for your final journey. Till we meet again."
     
    Urwa, known for starring in films such as "Na Maalom Afraad" and "Maalik", tweeted: "Saddened beyond words! Rest in peace Junaid Jamshed and all the people who were on board! Inna Lillahi Wa Inna Ilaihi Rajiun."
     
    Actor Hamza Ali Abbasi tweeted: "You will be missed Junaid bhai"
     
    Born in 1963, Junaid adorned many hats and includes of a recording artist, television personality, fashion designer and singer-songwriter.
     
    As part of band "Vital Signs", Junaid gained nationwide recognition with 1987 album Vital Signs 1 which included the hit tracks "Dil Dil Pakistan" and "Tum Mil Gaye".
     
    "Junaid of Vital Signs", his solo album was released in 1994 and was quite successful too. His other two albums were "Us Rah Par" and "Dil Ki Baat".
     
    In 2004, he bid adieu to his music career and focused on preaching, which paved way to religious recitals on television. 

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