Daily Times

The devastating crash of PIA Flight #8303 has been that one thing has left us all greatly traumatized as a country. The news has left us with so much sadness that it was difficult celebrating our Eid here; many chose to observe it while keeping in our hearts and minds prayers for those affected.

The onslaught of COVID-19 has already left us very disturbed and the news of the tragedy certainly has rattled us to the core, splitting ourselves with a difference of opinions as days go by. International media chose to print negative news on us but there is a marked distinction on one remark said, taken from one social media account, and what the people of Pakistan really feel. The tragedy has been so devastating that each person can say they knew somebody on that flight or knew of somebody in some way. The flight not only with its passengers and cabin crew were the victims but as it crashed it left many injured and houses burnt in a housing society below.

The report and investigation which will take weeks yet the people of social media have already become judge and jury in the matter of who takes the fall for it or whose was at fault. As of yet no official news is forthcoming on what happened save for a few press conferences that have briefed the general public and media that an investigation is in process.

It is simply not a possibility to call those running an institution a mass murderer and ask for their deaths in turn; that is not what the sentiments should be promoting in any circumstance as a civilized society. The general public posting their perspectives are angry and hurt, true enough. However, opinions fuelled with emotions and allegations will not only hinder the investigative processes, which must be given time to take place, but will also hurt those who have lost loved ones and who are searching for answers. What one must voice out is rightfully are the emotions of and calls for assistance for the families of those lost to us. We must consider the sensitivities of everything and everybody keeping intact the integrity in trying to get the correct answers without resorting to any sensationalism. I was truly grateful to see a majority of people kept that focus. During the rescue attempts and the search for survivors there were calls asking the correct protocols to be in place even down to requests not to overcrowd the site but to allow the rescue work to continue.

Nobody, no father no mother, no child, no spouse, no relative nor loved ones should have to suffer through this

Yes, there is already an investigation taking place. Yes, it will be done with due diligence as is the faith we must keep in the authorities. In one post I read a very pertinent remark which said the online self-proclaimed doctors (commenting on COVID-19) would now turn into aviation experts within seconds. Hearsay will hurt everybody as news is flashed without hearing the actual advice of the experts who have yet to conclude their official reports.

The media abroad covered the sentiments of a nation in one remark which it quoted and it amplified into a debate which should have never happened on the dignity of a victim. It is not for us to judge and neither for us to even amplify the debate. What should have been rightfully covered was the volunteers, fasting in the heat, not caring for their own lives, rushing to form one of the largest rescue efforts. Be it the civilian who rushed into the fire to get to the victims, or the rangers who came on ground or the charity organization by the name of Edhi (as well as others) who partook in the rescue efforts risking their own lives for a straight 24 hours on end. And still going strong days later on the streets of the crash site. Something that became apparent that Sindh as a province should’ve had an official rescue service for one of the most populated and largest provinces of the country. This would be the time for the local provincial bodies in power to think of one as that was the most starkly blaring missing element on ground.

Eid ul fitr this year was declared to be a somber one in solidarity with the victims of the tragedy as well as those who have left us through the pandemic. The whole nation has observed the occasion with sobriety. Each and every single victim is in our hearts. Not a single one is going to be forgotten. The entire cabin crew, flight passengers and those who were below on ground as well as those whose homes were burnt and those injured; all of them, every single one matters. To the families of those affected, we salute you for your bravery and the courage during this extremely challenging time. One cannot imagine the pain one is going through. I know of one gentlemen who has lost his son; my heart goes out to him and every family member of all those affected. Nobody, no father no mother, no child, no spouse, no relative nor loved ones should have to suffer through this.

One is hoping that the survivors as well as the victim’s families, and those injured on the streets are helped and assisted in every possible way. It is a must to relieve their suffering by any kind of assistance offered at each stage from identifying their families or the burial and even after by methods that provide support throughout and beyond. They are the priorities as well as they are the ones left behind and they are the ones who will be living with the trauma for a lifetime. Any help for them will be the responsibility on each one of us in whatever way we can and must. As a nation we must give heartfelt prayers for all those impacted by the tragedy of PIA flight #8303; they will always be remembered.

The writer is known for her articles on socio-cultural impact.