Gilani, Qureshi condole deaths in Mangalore crash

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi Saturday conveyed their “deepest condolences and sympathies to the bereaved families” of the victims of the Air India Express aircraft crash in Mangalore.

In a condolence message to his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh, Gilani said: “I was deeply shocked to learn of the tragic crash of an Air India Express aircraft this morning in Karnataka, resulting in the loss of many precious lives.

“On behalf of the government and people of Pakistan and on my own behalf, I would like to convey our deepest condolences and sympathies to the bereaved families,” Gilani said, reported Online news agency.

“Please accept, excellency, assurances of my highest considerations,” he added.

Qureshi, who is currently in Cairo on an official visit, telephoned Indian External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna to convey his “deepest condolences”.

“The foreign minister said that we fully shared the grief of the people of India and that our hearts go out to the bereaved families,” according to the foreign office spokesman.

Krishna thanked Qureshi for telephoning him from Egypt to convey his condolences, the spokesman added.

At least 159 people were killed when the Air India Express flight from Dubai crashed Saturday while landing at Mangalore airport.