ISLAMABAD: The wife of a Pakistani man who died along with his son trying to confront a suspected white supremacist during twin mosque attacks in Christchurch earlier this year said she was “overwhelmed” by Saudi Arabia’s offer to bereaved families to perform the annual Hajj pilgrimage as guests of King Salman.
Mian Naeem Rashid, 50, and his son Talha were among nine Pakistanis killed when a gunman attacked two mosques in the New Zealand city of Christchurch in March, killing 50 people from countries including Afghanistan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Egypt and Jordan. Australian Brenton Tarrant, 28, has been charged with the murders and will go on trial next year.
Rashid from Abbottabad, Pakistan, and a New Zealand resident for nine years, was at the Al Noor mosque with his 21-year-old son. He was seen lunging at the gunman in the livestream video the killer posted online.
Rashid’s wife said she was “overwhelmed by this gesture of Saudi Arabia” to send the bereaved families of the Christchurch attack on Hajj.
Speaking to Arab News via phone from her home in New Zealand, Ambreen Rashid said: “I am thankful to King Salman and the Crown Prince for keeping us in their thoughts and providing us the opportunity to visit our most holy and spiritual place.”
Rashid said she along with other families of the victims were approached by Saudi diplomats shortly after the March attacks with the offer to go on the Hajj pilgrimage as guests of the government.
On Tuesday, Sheikh Abdullatif bin Abdulaziz Al-Asheikh, the Saudi Minister of Islamic Affairs, formally announced that on the directives of King Salman, 200 members of the Christchurch victims’ families would perform Hajj this year.
Hosting the families during Hajj season is part of Saudi Arabia’s efforts to “confront and defeat terrorism” in all forms, Asheikh said, adding that his ministry was working with the Saudi embassy in New Zealand to make all arrangements for the families’ pilgrimage.
Earlier this year, Pakistan bestowed a national award on Naeem Rashid, with Prime Minister Imran Khan saying in a tweet: “Pakistan is proud of Mian Naeem Rashid who was martyred trying to tackle the white supremacist terrorist and his courage will be recognized with a national award.”
“I remember last year I was talking to my husband that I wanted to perform Hajj, but we weren’t in the position financially,” said Rashid who will travel to Saudi Arabia in the first week of August with her two sons. “But he told me then not to worry and trust Allah and now when I have been blessed with the opportunity to perform Hajj, I can’t express how much I miss my husband. I wish he was with me.”
Wife of Christchurch hero says ‘overwhelmed’ by Saudi offer to host bereaved families for Hajj
Wife of Christchurch hero says ‘overwhelmed’ by Saudi offer to host bereaved families for Hajj
- 200 family members of people killed in twin mosque attacks have been invited to Hajj as guests of King Salman
- Naeem Rashid and his son were among nine Pakistanis shot dead in the New Zealand city of Christchurch in March
After mosque bombing, Islamabad intensifies patrols, surveillance during Ramadan prayers, iftar
- Police chief orders enhanced screening at capital city’s entry and exit points after Feb. 6 blast
- Safe City cameras to monitor Islamabad round the clock as special pre-iftar traffic plan enforced
ISLAMABAD: Police in the federal capital have been instructed to step up patrols, surveillance and checkpoint inspections during Ramadan prayers and iftar hours, an official statement said on Wednesday, as the city’s police chief chaired a security meeting following a deadly mosque bombing earlier this month.
Inspector General of Police Syed Ali Nasir Rizvi directed senior officers to ensure “foolproof security” across the city, with special focus on mosques during peak congregational times.
The meeting comes after a suicide bombing at a mosque on the outskirts of Islamabad on Feb. 6 that killed at least 32 people. The blast targeted the Qasr-e-Khadijatul Kubra mosque and imambargah during Friday prayers and was claimed by Daesh that said one of its militants detonated an explosive vest inside the congregation.
“All officers must ensure their presence in the field and properly brief personnel about their duties,” Rizvi said, according to a statement issued by the police.
“Strict security arrangements should be ensured at mosques, imambargahs and Ramadan bazaars,” he continued. “Special patrols should be conducted during Fajr, iftar and Taraweeh hours.”
The police chief said Safe City cameras would be used for round-the-clock effective monitoring across the capital.
In addition to security measures, he reviewed traffic arrangements and directed strict implementation of a special traffic plan during pre-iftar rush hours, calling for additional deployment on major roads and at commercial centers.
Islamabad, which has generally seen fewer large-scale militant attacks than some other parts of Pakistan, has faced sporadic security incidents in the past, prompting authorities to tighten monitoring during religious gatherings and other high-risk events.
