Nine Pakistanis martyred in New Zealand terror attacks

A woman cries to mourn for victims of terrorist attack outside Al Noor mosque in Christchurch.

CHRISTCHURCH (Dunya News) – Nine Pakistanis were pronounced dead by New Zealand s authorities in Friday s terror attack on two mosques in the New Zealand city of Christchurch, according to Pakistan’s Foreign Office (FO) Spokesperson Dr Mohammad Faisal.

He took to Twitter on Sunday and informed that Zeeshan Raza, his father Ghulam Hussain and mother Karam bibi have been confirmed dead, raising the death toll of martyred Pakistanis to nine.

The list of martyred Pakistanis include:

Mr. Sohail Shahid Syed Jahandad Ali (Lahore) Syed Areeb Ahmed (Karachi) Mr. Mahboob Haroon (Islamabad) Mr. Naeem Rashid (Abbotabad) Mr. Talha Naeem (Abbotabad) Mr Zeeshan Raza Mr Ghulam Hussain Ms Karam

Mr Zeeshan Raza, his father Mr Ghulam Hussain and mother Ms. Karam bibi have now been confirmed to have embraced shahadat in the terrroist attack in #NewZealand. We are in touch with their family. A total of 9 Pakistanis embraced shahadat in #NewZealandTerrorAttack

— Dr Mohammad Faisal (@DrMFaisal) March 17, 2019

FS Tehmina Janjua telephonically spoke to Amb Hamish McMaster New Zealand’s Tehran based Amb also accredited to Pak FS conveyed condolences on tragic loss of life in the terrorist attack in #Christchurch & requested for facilitation in assisting families of affected Pakistanis

— Dr Mohammad Faisal (@ForeignOfficePk) March 16, 2019

Furthermore, a circular was released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Islamabad notifying details regarding visa facilitation for the immediate family members of the victims.

According to the notification, family members can log in here to apply for a visit visa. Once applications are submitted, the applicants are advised to send their application numbers, along with scanned copies of their passports to Mr Moin Fudda, Honorary Consul General of New Zealand for Pakistan at:

Email: moin@fudda.org Whatsapp: +923428200200

In the event of any difficulties, for example in filling out financial details, the applicants should inform by letter that they are the relatives of the victims of the Christchurch attack, the circular further advises.

Dr Faisal, in a Twitter post, had also stated that Rashid and his son Talha will be buried in Christchurch for which arrangements have been made with the assistance of Muslim and Pakistani associations in the city.

He said that the Pakistani Mission in the city is working with the families of the other seven victims for the transportation of their bodies to Pakistan.

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.

FO spokesperson said Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi had instructed authorities for maximum possible assistance to the bereavedfamilies.

Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua also spoke to New Zealand ambassador in Tehran Hamish MacMaster, who is also accredited to Pakistan, via telephone, Dr Faisal said.

The foreign secretary conveyed condolences on the tragic loss of lives in the terrorist attack in Christchurch and requested for facilitation in assisting families of affected Pakistanis.