Nation asked to pray for missing mountaineers

ISLAMABAD   -  Prime Minister Imran Khan and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa are personally following developments after three mountaineers including Muhammad Ali Sadpara went missing during a mission on K2. 

Prime Minister’s Special Assistant on Overseas Pakistanis Zulfi Bukhari in a tweet said that Prime Minister Imran Khan and COAS Qamar Javed Bajwa are concerned and personally following all developments regarding the missing mountaineers.

He further said that high-altitude porters and Lama helicopters will restart the search at the crack of dawn. 

“Prayers needed from everyone for their safe return!” In another Tweet hours before, Zulfi Bukhari said that search and rescue teams were actively looking for Ali Sadpara, John Snorri and JP Mohr.

Also, President Dr Arif Alvi on Saturday prayed for the safety of renowned mountaineer Ali Sadpara and his co-climbers who went missing during their expedition to summit K 2.

“I hope Ali Sadpara and his co-climbers are alive and fine,” the president remarked on Twitter calling them “very brave mountaineers.” 

Ali Sadpara along with climbers from Iceland and Chile is reported to be missing during his winter climb on K 2. They are out of contact since Friday. A rescue operation has been launched to locate the missing climbers. However, the deputy commissioner of Shigar, in a tweet, confirmed that Sajid Sadpara, son of Ali Sadpara, who was also part of the expedition, had reached K 2 base camp. 

Meanwhile, Chairman Pakistan Peoples’ Party Bilawal Bhutto Zardari expressed concern over the missing mountaineer Mohammad Ali Sadpara and his team members and asked  the authorities to use their utmost efforts to find him. Before going to this adventure Sadpara had met Bilawal Bhutto and had expressed his desire to climb K2 in winter season. He said Ali Sadpara is a national hero and a pride for Pakistan. 

The people of Pakistan and Gilgit Baltistan are praying for his safe and sound recovery, he added.