SOPs issued for retrieving PIA plane crash victims’ bodies

Iftikhar Shallwani, Karachi Commissioner has issued SOPs for the identification and retrieval of PIA plane crash victims bodies.

A Pakistan International Airlines A-320 aircraft crashed in the Model Colony at Karachi on May 22. The plane had 99 people on board, and the incident was only survived by two.

On Thursday the Karachi commissioner released a notice outlining SOPs for the identification and recovery of victims’ bodies.

According to a report, the SOP’s are listed as follows:

Assistant commissioners or mukhtiarkars will be deputed at Sohrab Goth Edhi Centre and Chhipa Center at Nursery

Senior police officials and medico-legal officers will be present at the mortuaries to complete legal formalities in coordination with the district administration

After the DNA matching, they will confirm the availability of the body through physical verification

Assistant commissioners and police officials will coordinate with bereaved families once DNA reports are shared

After the confirmation of a body, its ghusal, shroud and coffin are to be arranged by the assistant commissioners. The body will finally be draped in the national flag

Sindh police would issue a report to the MLO for immediate issuance of the death certificate

Police officials will communicate to the bereaved family regarding receiving of the body from either of the two mortuaries

Once the family arrives, officials will receive them, seek necessary documents and console them

After the completion of formalities, the body would be handed over by a police party with honour

Officials have been asked to ensure minimum time in the process and deal with families of the victims with empathy and utmost respect