40 Pakistanis martyred, 63 still missing after Mina stampede

ISLAMABAD: Endorsing the statement of Ambassador of Pakistan to Saudi Arabia Manzoor-ul-Haq, MNA Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry on Monday confirmed the martyrdom of 40 Pakistanis as a result of the Mina stampede during this year’s Hajj in Saudi Arabia.

Speaking at a press conference here, the PML-N MNA said 35 Pakistani pilgrims were also injured in the last week’s tragic incident. Chaudhry said 221 of the missing Pakistanis have made contact while 63 were still misplaced.

Announcing Rs500,000 and Rs200,000 in compensation for martyred and injured respectively by the government, he said the families of martyred were being informed of all developments.

Families of the martyred Pakistani pilgrims will also be sent to perform Umrah on the state’s expenses, he added.

Speaking to Geo News earlier today, Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Sardar Yousuf had said that 221 Pakistanis previously believed to be missing have made contact while 63 were still missing. “Efforts are afoot to find the Pakistani pilgrims who are still missing,” he added.

He said that, under the Hajj policy, the Pakistani pilgrims martyred in Mina stampede will be laid to rest in Saudi Arabia.

Sardar Yousuf further said that 12 out of 34 of the Pakistanis who sustained injuries in the incident have been discharged from hospitals after treatment while the rest were still receiving medical aid in Saudi Arabia.

He said that if the family members of the victims wish to visit Saudi Arabia, the government would provide them all possible help.

Five Pakistani Hajjis who were martyred in the stampede have been laid to rest in the Mina graveyard. Three of those laid to rest were residents of Karachi and two were residents of Khanewal.

At least 1100 Hajj pilgrims from various countries were martyred as a result of a stampede last week in Mina where they had gathered to stone the devil as a ritual for this year's Hajj.

More than 900 pilgrims were injured while scores others went missing in the incident.

Helpline set up

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who is presently in New York for attending the United Nations General Assembly session, said difficulties are being faced in finding the missing pilgrims after the Mina stampede.

However, he hoped that the situation would become clear soon.

On the advice of the prime minister, the religious affairs ministry has set up a helpline to assist and help out those concerned about their loved ones.

The helpline can be accessed by calling the toll-free number 042111725425 from inside Pakistan, while callers from Saudi Arabia or other countries can dial 8001166622 for help. Relatives and family members may also visit the website www.hajjinfo.org for further details.

Later today, PM Sharif personally called on the helpline himself to check the service. The prime minister also ordered his office to get in touch with family members of all missing Pakistani pilgrims and acquaint them with the latest information.

Names of Shuhada from website of Ministry of Religious Affairs:

1. Hafsa Shoaib w/o Muhammad Shoaib Shahid
2. Zareen Nasim w/o Syed Nasim ul Haq
3. Seyda Narjis Shahnaz w/o Syed Ahmed Mehmood Shah
4. Zainab w/o Eid Muhammad
5. Mahmood Arshad s/o Atta Muhammad
6. Rasheedan Bibi w/o Muhammad Yaqoob
7. Zahid Gul s/o Aslam Muhammad
8. Dr Ameer Ali Lashari (According to Al Noor Hospital)
9. Makhdumzada Syed Asad Murtaza Gilani s/o Makhdum Syed Wajahat
Hussain Gilani
10. Abdul Rehman s/o Ismail
11. Shehnaz Qamar w/o Abdul Rehman
12. Islam Ahmed (According to the list of Al-Noor Hospital)
13. Bushra Bibi (According to the list of Al-Noor Hospital)
14. Mohammad Hasrat s/o Ali Asghar
15. Azeem Khan s/o Qadir Khan
16. Mohammad Idrees s/o Mohammad Din
17. Amir Mohammad Malook (According to the list of Al-Noor Hospital)
18. Gul Shahnaz w/o Ghulam Rabbani
19. Najma w/o Mukhtar Ahmed Khan
20. Noor Muhammad s/o Mir Ayub Khan
21. Muhammad Aslam s/o Muhammad Ishaq
22. Madina Bibi w/o Muhammad Aslam
23. Touseef Iftikhar s/o Iftikhar Ahmed
24. Muhammad Ismail Khan s/o Hidayat Ali Khan
25. Bibi Zara w/o Muhammad Nasreen
26. Abdul Ahad s/o Badshah Mir
27. Haji Abbas Khan s/o Total Khan
28. Talmeez Ahmed
29. Siraj Ahmed Siraj s/o Muhammad Jamal
30. Mian Muhammad Riaz (Lahore, ANN Tours)
31. Arif (Lahore, ANN Tours)
32. Aziz Mai w/o Noor
33. Bibi Shakira (Dr. Ashfaq Pak Hajj Mission)
34. Asif Khan (Dr. Ashfaq Pak Hajj Mission)
35. Muhammad Ibrahim Khan s/o Muhammad Gul
36. Muhammad Hassan Khan s/o Muhammad Amin Khan