Habibah's next-of-kin to arrive in Pakistan to identify body - Malaysian diplomat

KUALA LUMPUR: One of the children of Datin Habibah Mahmud, who died in a helicopter crash in northern Pakistan yesterday, is expected to arrive at that country to help identify her remains today, said a Malaysian diplomat.

According to the Malaysian deputy high commissioner to Pakistan, Aiyub Omar, the presence of the family member was also to enable a DNA test to be carried out during the process.

When contacted by Bernama, Aiyub said the remains of Malaysian High Commissioner to Pakistan, Datuk Dr Hasrul Sani Mujtabar's wife

arrived at the Islamabad army base from Gilgit in a Pakistani military aircraft.

"Her body will be temporarily placed at Rawalpindi Combined Military Hospital, which is about 30 minutes' journey from the capital of Pakistan, Islamabad," he said.

Also flown to Islamabad were bodies of the ambassadors of Norway and the Philippines, as well as the wife of the Indonesian ambassador.

Habibah was one of the seven individuals reported killed in a helicopter crash at the Naltar Valley in the region of Gilgit-Baltistan.

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Aiyub said he was informed that the Pakistani government would assist in bringing the body back to Malaysia.

The Malaysian Foreign Ministry yesterday confirmed Dr Hasrul Sani was injured in the incident, and was currently receiving treatment at the Gilgit Hospital.

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The ill-fated helicopter was carrying a group of foreign envoys and their wives to attend an official programme hosted by the Pakistani government.

Meanwhile, Aiyub said he managed to visit Dr Hasrul Sani at the Gilgit Hospital, although it quite was far from Islamabad.

"I met him yesterday, and today (I contacted him) through the phone. He suffered seven per cent burns to his face and hands, but can speak well," he said.