LAHORE: A Swedish charity worker who was critically wounded in a gun attack in Pakistan last week was flown home on Monday for specialist medical treatment, officials said.
Bargeeta Almby, 72, was coming home from work when she was shot in the chest in Lahore.
She was working in Lahore for the US-founded Full Gospel Assemblies, which describes itself as a "church fellowship" with congregations all over the world.
"She was still unconscious, her condition is critical, she is on a ventilator," said Fazlur Rehman, chief doctor at Jinnah Hospital.
"There was a special request from Sweden. They sent a special air ambulance manned by a team of doctors and we shifted her today."
Pastor Liaquat Qaiser, a spokesman for the Full Gospel Assemblies, confirmed that her condition was serious and that she had been flown to Sweden for better treatment.
The organisation runs charities in Pakistan including a technical training institute, adult literacy centre and orphanage. According to police, Almby has been living in Pakistan for 38 years.
Police officer Owais Malik said the culprits had not yet been identified.
In August 2011, US development worker Warren Weinstein was kidnapped after gunmen tricked their way into his Lahore home. Pakistani officials believe he is being held by al Qaeda and Taliban extremists in Pakistan's lawless northwest.
In April, a British Muslim Red Cross worker was beheaded nearly four months after being kidnapped in the southwestern city of Quetta.
COMMENTS (32)
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MD FGA Church in Pakistan Sister Bargetta Almbey who was attacked in Lahore died yesterday in Sweden.
I am sorry Sweeds! My wife is swedish and when she went on Swedish embassy Islamabad page. There she found warning to not visit Pakistan particularly Punajb, Sindh, Nwfp and Bloachistan. Because of terrorism and Dengue decease spread there in last summer.
We Pakistani are doing what? Please elect your good representative whom give the right direction to our country. Now I urge you please give rest to Sharif and Zardari family at least. they might get tried to serving five years.
@Zeeshan: PTI trolls should ask tsunami khan to take a clear stand. He has lotas in his party, funding from isi and backing of his taliban brothers.
Pakistan does not deserve wonderful human beings like this lady. I wish her a full recovery.
Just stop funding from Saudi Arabia and other gulf states. They keep funding the psycho madrassas and this is what we get in return. No one can trust these crazy people as they will send a suicide bomber after their own. Its time we stop harboring them and establish real law and order in our country.
@ET, Pls do not publish this. You will get trashed.
I previously wrote "the day we went into this thinking (after 49 and Zia and and ..) as the day a (any) religion dictated that non-believers are not equal". There is something for you to think about.
I am an ex-Indian, Sikh, but turned atheist due to all the violence in the name of religion. Hence the name Bill Maher. Bill Maher is from LAX. You should watch him at least once.
Well, next time I will be less controversial.
You are doing a fine job compared to NY Times, FP and TOI. I am a news junkie, I am sure you can tell. Best and regards// ..wordmaster@gmail.com (I rarely read that) ..Peace or ..ps or ..pc
First malala and now Bargeeta Almby. Why is Pak not doing much about TTP. I hope both the old and the young lady recover fast and serve the people around them.;
@Saleem, Don't involve him. All the parties (PPP, PML(N),MQM, ANP, PML(Q)) who are in Federal or Provincial power are to be blamed as they had made mess with this country. If Imran Khan is in power and all these thing are happening the he is responsible.
And they have gall to speak about India for the treatment of Blind cricket team captain....Atleast we recognized our mistake and steps have been taken in order to avoid further mishaps.....What this country called denialistan is doing............
This is just so disgraceful
@Eshal- Yes YOU the Pakistanis condone such acts and do nothing to stop them, thats why they keep on happening in Pakistan. Ever wondered why such events are not so rampant in other countries? because their citizens do not condone such barbaric acts, unlike the Pakistanis...
I used to have sympathy for the many charity workers who used to get attacked in Pakistan, but not anymore. They are ignoring repeated warnings from everyone and still staying in Pakistan. I am questioning their Intelligence and sanity.
Pakistan has charity groups like JuD, led by UN Security Council blacklisted Hafiz Saeed. It doesn't need Red Cross nor anyone else. They have the green serving them.
You were much braver than us cowardly hypocrites.
Bunch of cowards, scum of the earth attacking 72 and 15 year old women and children! God bless this poor woman, our prayers are with her.
May God be with you, Almby. People like us do not deserve the help of great people like you. I can only pray for your health!!!
I feel so sorry this has happened.
@Baluch: We, the common Pakistanis are not even involved in this ruthless act, I wonder what made you say that!
Get Well Soon Bargeeta. Best Wishes.
@A J Khan: The citizens of Pakistan are deeply worried on this situation. Are you kidding? Which citizens are worried? As a nation the whole civic society seems to be a dead body. Even as a lip service no one dared to say few words. Shame. As such do not call the mob of Pakistanis as citiznes.
of course if you live in jungle then don't expect any law.Mullah will slain you all,never mind if you keep silent now next turn is your.
@A J Khan: Everything is manageable if we stop being corrupt....all are busy is loot - right, left & center & do not care taking steps in improving the LEAs performances by providing them better salaries & facilities,training, equipments etc;
Are we worst than animals? Probably yes.
This is completely shameful that we cannot ensure the life and property of other human beings. Even sadder that we are treating our guests (who choose to come here and do charity work that we should be doing ourselves) so poorly.
The more obsessed we are getting with religion the worse human beings we are turning into. We should get back to the basics to prevent further deterioration.
Sincere Apologies to her. Really very sad for her!
Allah will save her.
@Sharjeel Jawaid Jawaid: It is a matter of unmanagable Law and order in Pakistan because of the spill over of the Afghanistan War and failure of government of Punjab to look after the people at large. The citizens of Pakistan are deeply worried on this situation. We condenm the act and pray for her recovery.
God bless her,
We are so sorry, we don't deserve to be treated like humans :(
It is a matter of National Shame!