WELLINGTON (Pakistan Point News / NNI - 17th March, 2019) The death toll of Pakistani killed in the Christchurch terror attack in New Zealand has risen to nine, the Foreign Office said Sunday morning.In a first tweet yesterday made by Foreign Office Spokesperson Dr. Muhammad Faisal confirmed that six Pakistanis were martyred in New Zealand.The deceased have been identified as Zeeshan Raza, his father Ghulam Hussain and mother Karam Bibi. They belonged to Karachi.
In another tweet today, the FO spokesperson said three more deaths of Pakistanis namely Zeeshan Raza, his father Ghulam Hussain and mother Karam Bibi have now been confirmed. He said foreign office is in touch with their family. He said Muslim and Pakistani Association in the city has assisted in the arrangements.Others killed in attack include Naeem Rashid and his 22-year-old son Talha Naeem, Sohail Shahid, Syed Jahandad Ali, Syed Areeb Ahmed and Mehboob Haroon.
All of the Pakistanis have been identified now, said Foreign Office Spokesperson Dr Mohammad Faisal.The list of martyred Pakistanis include: Sohail Shahid; Syed Jahandad Ali (Lahore); Syed Areeb Ahmed (Karachi); Mahboob Haroon (Islamabad); Naeem Rashid (Abbotabad); Talha Naeem (Abbotabad); Zeeshan Raza; Ghulam Hussain; and Karam.Mr Zeeshan Raza, his father Mr Ghulam Hussain and mother Ms. Karam Bibi have now been confirmed to have embraced shahadat in the terrorist attack in New Zealand.
We are in touch with their family. A total of 9 Pakistanis embraced shahadat in New Zealand Terror Attack.The foreign ministry has assured the family of the deceased that it is taking all steps to facilitate visa process of them. Naeem Rashid's mother and Mehboob Haroon's family have applied for visa.Meanwhile, Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua has requested New Zealand for facilitation in assisting families of affected Pakistanis in Christchurch.
She was talking to New Zealand's Ambassador Hamish McMaster who is in Tehran and accredit to Pakistan. She also conveyed condolences on tragic loss of life in the terrorist attack in Christchurch.Pakistan Association of New Zealand General Secretary Asim Mukhtar reported that one Pakistani is in ICU. He identified the injured as 65-year-old Mohammad Amin who was visiting New Zealand."Naeem Rasheed and his son will be buried in Christchurch.
Arrangements for the burial are in place. Muslim [and] Pakistani Association in the city has assisted in arrangements. Mission is working with families of other four victims for possible transport of dead bodies to Pakistan," tweeted Foreign Office Spokesperson Mohammad Faisal.Rashid was identified by a relative from the video live-streamed by the attacker. He had attempted to stop the assailant as he gunned victims down in the mosque.An injured Pakistani Amin Nasir, hailing from Hafizabad, suffered severe bullet wounds and is availing treatment at a hospital.
His family members in Pakistan have been undergoing extreme distress.Pakistani software engineer Syed Jahandad Ali, hailed from Karachi and had been working in Christchurch. He left his children in Pakistan about a month ago while his wife is residing in Lahore. His uncle Shahid told the media that they came to hear about his death through media reports. Since then, the family members have been mourning his death. Jahandad was about to visit Pakistan on March 23, and his family had been preparing for his visit.
27-year-old Syed Areeb Ahmed hailed from Karachi and had been working as a chartered accountant in Christchurch for around 18 months. He visited Pakistan in January, 2019.Deputy High Commissioner Syed Moazzam Shah told a private television channel that five people had been reported missing. He said that the injured had been shifted to different hospitals and 97 were still unidentified.A New Zealand court charged the Primary suspect in the shootings with murder. The 28-year-old Australian, identified as Brenton Harrison Tarrant, killed 49 people and injured 48 others after he opened fire at two mosques in Christchurch on Friday.New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Arden had called it a dark day in the country's history and declared it an act of terrorism. NNI
