70-year-old Riaz from Lahore also martyred in Mina stampede

LAHORE: Relatives and neighbours in Lahore's Samnabad area are saddened at the death of 70-year-old Mian Mohammad Riaz, who was among the Pakistani pilgrims martyred in the stampede near Mina that claimed 769 lives.

Family members say the elderly Riaz had insisted on going to perform the holy pilgrimage this year.

His son says he was preparing for the journey as if he was going to stay in the holy land forever. Little did he know that his father was never coming back home.

"He was a very good man. Before leaving... his preparations were such that he was really never going to return," says son Tayyab Riaz.

"After consulting with elders and family members, we have decided that we will also bury him there."




The Ministry of Religious Affairs has confirmed the martyrdom of 36 Pakistanis as a result of the Mina stampede in Saudi Arabia – the worst disaster to strike the annual Hajj pilgrimage in 25 years.

The Ministry of Religious Affairs has released the names of the 36 Pakistani martyrs in a list on its website.

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 769 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.