At least four security officers of President General Pervez Musharraf were killed when an army helicopter crashed in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir on Monday, the army spokesman Major General Waheed Arshad said.

 

The helicopter, carrying security and other staff officers of Musharraf, came down near the town of Gari Dupata in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir during a crash landing, Arshad said.

 

Arshad said that blaze erupted at the back side of the helicopter, forcing the pilot to crash land. As a result, four security officers of Musharraf lost their lives and four others who were onboard the helicopter were seriously injured.

 

Presidential spokesman Major General Rashid Qureshi was among the four injured officers who were evacuated to hospital in Muzaffarabad, he said, adding that the pilot remained unhurt in the crash landing.

 

Arshad disclosed that the ill-fated helicopter was following the helicopter of Musharraf who reached his destination eventually.

 

Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz were scheduled to visit the earthquake-hit Pakistan-controlled Kashmir and North West Frontier Province on the second anniversary of the devastating earthquake in October 2005.

 

(Xinhua News Agency October 9, 2007)