There are unlikely to be any survivors, a government official on the scene said
The brother of Junaid Jamshed has confirmed the Pakistan singer was on board the ill-fated plane crash on Wednesday.
According to Junaid Jamshed’s brother, he was travelling from Chitral to Islamabad and was his way back to home.
Senior Pakistani journalist, Hamid Mir tweeted: “Close friends of Junaid Jamshed saying he along with his wife was also travelling on PIA plane crashed coming from Chitral to Islamabad”.
Jamshed and his wife Aisha Jamshed are feared dead, as they were travelling in the ill-fated Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) PK-661 which was carrying 46 passengers.
There are unlikely to be any survivors, a government official on the scene said.
“All of the bodies are burned beyond recognition. The debris is scattered,” said Taj Muhammad Khan, an official based in the Havelian region in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
Jamshed is a recording artist previously awarded a Medal of Excellence by the President of Pakistan.
He first gained nationwide prominence and international recognition as group Vital Signs vocalist in 1987.
In 1994, he released his debut solo album, Junaid of Vital Signs, which also quickly became a national hit, followed by Us Rah Par in 1999 and Dil Ki Baat in 2002.
In 2004, Jamshed officially renounced music after announcing that he had devoted his life to Islam.
The Pakistan International Airlines plane crashed in a village near the town of Havelian, about 45 miles north west of the capital Islamabad, senior police officer Khurram Rasheed said.
There were no immediate details on casualties but Pakistan’s interior ministry dispatched a team with experts on identifying bodies through DNA tests.
Pakistani TV channels reported that the jet lost contact with ground control and was missing shortly after taking off from the northern city of Chitral on Wednesday.
Geo News, citing civil aviation sources, said the plane lost contact with civil aviation authority at around 4.30pm (11.30 GMT).
The plane is thought to be carrying 37 passengers plus crew.
Airline spokesman Danyal Gilani confirmed the plane had “disappeared.”
Birmingham born Adil Ray, who stars in the BBC One comedy Citizen Khan, which he created and co-writes, offered his condolences on Twitter.
Ray wrote: “Very sad news of missing Pakistani flight. One of Pakistans most famous former pop stars on board. Huge loss. Thoughts with all families.”