217 Pakistani pilgrims tracked in Saudi Arabia, 85 missing
36 Pakistanis were martyred and 35 injured in the stampede.
ISLAMABAD (Web Desk) — Pakistan s minister for religious affairs on Monday said the authorities have tracked down 217 Pakistanis who went missing following last week s stampede that martyred more than 700 pilgrims during the Hajj in Saudi Arabia.
Sardar Muhammad Yousaf, speaking to state-run Pakistan Television Sunday night from Saudi Arabia, said 85 Pakistanis were still missing and efforts were underway to locate them.
He said 36 Pakistanis were martyred and 35 injured in the stampede.
Saudi authorities say at least 769 people died when two large waves of pilgrims converged on a narrow road during the final days of the annual Hajj, near the holy city of Makkah.
On the special instruction of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, the Ministry for Religious Affairs has also established Haj and Mina Tragedy helplines. The initiative is aimed at providing necessary help and information to the families of missing Pakistani Hajj pilgrims. .
Toll free number 042111725425 has been resend for those calling from Pakistan while those calling from Saudi Arabia can use the toll free number 08001166622.
http://www.hajjinfo.org can be visited for details including passport numbers of the pilgrims.
