Pakistan flag to fly at half-mast today in memory of New Zealand martyrs
March 18, 2019
ISLAMABAD: The national flag will fly at half-mast today (Monday) across the country in reverence of the martyred and injured in the New Zealand mosque attacks.
According to a notification issued by the Ministry of Interior, the decision has been taken to express solidarity with the bereaved families in last week's terrorist attack at two mosques in Christchurch.
The government and people of Pakistan stand united and extend solidarity to the grieved families, the notification read.
Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry also tweeted and said, "As New Zealand prepares to bury mosque victims, Pakistan flag half-mast today."
"Dialogue among civilisations is only way forward. Rise of hate mongers on the world stage is making world unsafe. Liberalism needs evolution,its academia’s responsibility to think of solution," he added.
Addressing a press conference on Sunday, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said he had spoken to New Zealand foreign minister on phone on length, after 50 people, including nine Pakistanis, were shot dead by a 28-year-old right-wing extremist who attacked two mosques in Christchurch: the Al Noor Mosque, and another mosque in the suburb of Linwood.
The process of handing over bodies of victims to their respective families would begin today, Qureshi had quoted the New Zealand foreign minister as saying. The New Zealand foreign minister said the identification of bodies has been completed.
Qureshi said the New Zealand foreign minister had informed him that an investigation into the gunman’s motives is under way.
“The Pakistan High Commission in New Zealand is making all efforts for the affected Pakistani families. The families of six of the martyred want to bury their dead in New Zealand, while three have expressed wish to bury their dead in Pakistan," he further said.
