Excavation uncovers child lost in 2005 quake

Father says discovery brings closure after over two decades of grief, uncertainty

---

Express photo

---

BALAKOT:

The body of five-year-old Jamal Shafiq, a resident of Balakot, who was killed in the October 8, 2005, earthquake, was found 21 years later during the excavation work for the reconstruction of the house where he had resided.

Jamal Shafiq, son of Qari Shafiqur Rehman, was killed after being buried under the house in the October 8, 2005, earthquake. The search for his dead body continued for many years after his death but was unsuccessful. His body was found on Monday during the excavation work for the reconstruction of the house.

Jamal's father, Qari Shafiqur Rehman, said that they had searched for the child's body in the rubble of their house for several months before giving up. Excavation work had been started for the reconstruction of the same house on Monday.

As the workmen dug through the rubble during the excavation, they first saw the child's clothes. They hastened to remove the rubble and uncovered the child's body.

After the body was recovered, Jamal's funeral prayers were offered, and he was buried in a nearby cemetery. Shafiqurur Rehman said that after spending 21 years in grief over his son's disappearance, he had finally found peace after finding his body and being able to bury him.