22/08/2024
CLIMBERS REMAINS AT SIRWALI PEAK IDENTIFIED
This clarification is being issued in response to the various news appeared in social, print and electronic media reporting identification of bodies/remains of missing climbers who went missing in 2015 while climbing Sirwali Peak (6,326-M) in Kel, District Neelum, AJK organised by Tahir Imran.
The reports say the bodies of the missing climbers have been identified at Sirwali Peak. In this regard, clarification is issued with a brief account of background.
2. It may be recalled that 2015 a mountaineering expedition wherein three persons: two of them known as climbers i.e. Mr. Imran Junaidi, Mr. Usman Tariq; and Mr. Khurram Rajput as a Trekker; from a private club (Ibex Club)/Pakistan Alpine Institute went missing while climbing on Sirwali/Toshi Re (6326-M)Peak.
When ACP management received information about the missing of these climbers, in the first week of September, 2015 alongwith the request for facilitation of Heli Search by Pak Army. ACP approached the then Minister for IPC via PSB/IPC Division to request Defence Division and arial search was made by Pak Army. Next day, ACP sent a search team by road which came back without finding any trace.
A separate team was also sent by Sponsor of this expedition.
Later on relatives of the missing climbers met with top brass of PSB/IPC who provided financial support and two more search missions comprised of top mountaineers/HAPs who have climbed peaks above 8000-M i.e Mr. Rehmatullah Qureshi, Mr. Hassan Sadpara (late), Sadiq Sadpara, Ali Musa, Shareef Sadpara, Ali Naqi and Ali Raza.
Mr. Saad Tariq Siddique, Faizi Awan and relatives of the missing climbers were also part of these missions. No clue was found.
The relatives of the missing climbers also filed a case before the Commission of the Missing Persons for which one of the relatives of the missing climbers has filed a request for re-opening.
Last week the relatives of the missing climbers once again approached ACP for support to retrieve the remains and also search rest of the parts.
In this connection, they invited representatives of the ACP twice in the meetings held at Mr.Esam Khattak office, recently. Since, retrieval of bodies involve some legal complications/obligations i.e. testing of DNA, evidence of the place etc., hence the process of retrieval of remains may be initiated by relevant authorities i.e. local Police (Kel, Neelum, AJK) where initially FIR was lodged. However, ACP agreed to provide partial support on humanitarian grounds for this attempt for which PSB has already been requested.
It is, worth mentioning that the retrieval and identification of bodies/remains involve some legal/tehncial
complications/obligations i.e. evidence collection, testing of DNA etc., hence the process of retrieval of remains for which relatives have already started process. And a team is likely to be moved from Islamabad led by Col: (R) Abdul Jabbar Bhatti to provide mountaineering related support to the legal team.
Usman Waheed
Office Manager
Alpine Club of Pakistan