36 Pakistanis killed in Hajj stampede
FO rejects report claiming 236 Pakistanis were killed during incident; government announces compensation
PHOTO: AFP
Officials on Sunday confirmed the deaths of at least three dozen Pakistanis in the Hajj stampede in Mina four days ago which left nearly as many Pakistani pilgrims injured in the tragic incident.
The total death toll from the stampede rose to 769 as the annual pilgrimage in Makkah ended under reinforced security measures.
Earlier, Minister for Religious Affairs Sardar Yousuf spoke with Express News over the telephonic from Makkah and said at least 20 Pakistanis were injured in the incident of which 12 had been discharged from hospitals.
The minister further said measures were being taken to locate the missing Pakistani pilgrims.
Read: Death toll in hajj crush rises to 769: Saudi health minister
According to a list published by the Ministry of Religious Affairs, the deceased include Hafsa Shoaib, Zarin Naseem, Syeda Narjis Shahnaz, Bibi Zainab, Mahmood Arshad, Rasheedan Bibi, Zahid Gul, Dr. Ameer Ali Lashari and Makhdoomzada Syed Asad Murtaza Gillani, Abdul Rehman, Shehnaz Qamar, Islam Ahmad, Bushra Bibi, Muhammad Hasrat, Azeem Khan, Muhammad Idrees, Aamir Muhammad Malook and Gul Shahnaz.
135 missing Pakistani pilgrims traced
Further, Pakistan's Ambassador in Saudi Arabia Manzoorul Haq said 135 missing Pakistani pilgrims have been traced. "Various hotels and hospitals are also being contacted for the search of remaining missing Pakistanis," he added, according to Radio Pakistan.
Earlier today, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif directed the Foreign Office and director general Hajj to increase their efforts to locate missing pilgrims, Radio Pakistan reported.
The death toll in a crush rose to 769, Saudi Arabia said on Saturday.
The worst disaster to befall the annual pilgrimage in a quarter of a century occurred on Thursday as two large groups of pilgrims arrived together at a crossroads in Mina, a few kilometres outside the holy city.
"The latest statistics up to this hour reveal 769 dead. That is an increase of 52 on the previous figures," Saudi health minister Khalid al-Falih told a news conference.
Read: Eleven Pakistanis killed, 17 injured in Hajj stampede
"Those are the ones who died in various hospitals since the event," he said, adding that 934 people were wounded.
FO denies report claiming 236 Pakistanis were killed
The Foreign Office rejected a report in British newspaper, Guardian, claiming 236 Pakistanis were killed in the stampede.
Further, a statement issued by FO said the Pakistani embassy is facilitating identification of the deceased at the mortuary in Makkah along with efforts being made to locate missing the missing pilgrims.
Compensation
Prime Minister's Focal Person on Mina incident, Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhry announced on Monday a compensation of rupees 0.5 million for the heirs of each of the Pakistani killed in the tragedy and 0.2 million for the injured, Radio Pakistan reported.
He also said government would provide free medical treatment to the wounded persons after they return home.
Further, Fazal said two or three family members of each person killed in the incident would be sent on Umrah at the government's expense.
The total death toll from the stampede rose to 769 as the annual pilgrimage in Makkah ended under reinforced security measures.
Earlier, Minister for Religious Affairs Sardar Yousuf spoke with Express News over the telephonic from Makkah and said at least 20 Pakistanis were injured in the incident of which 12 had been discharged from hospitals.
The minister further said measures were being taken to locate the missing Pakistani pilgrims.
Read: Death toll in hajj crush rises to 769: Saudi health minister
According to a list published by the Ministry of Religious Affairs, the deceased include Hafsa Shoaib, Zarin Naseem, Syeda Narjis Shahnaz, Bibi Zainab, Mahmood Arshad, Rasheedan Bibi, Zahid Gul, Dr. Ameer Ali Lashari and Makhdoomzada Syed Asad Murtaza Gillani, Abdul Rehman, Shehnaz Qamar, Islam Ahmad, Bushra Bibi, Muhammad Hasrat, Azeem Khan, Muhammad Idrees, Aamir Muhammad Malook and Gul Shahnaz.
135 missing Pakistani pilgrims traced
Further, Pakistan's Ambassador in Saudi Arabia Manzoorul Haq said 135 missing Pakistani pilgrims have been traced. "Various hotels and hospitals are also being contacted for the search of remaining missing Pakistanis," he added, according to Radio Pakistan.
Earlier today, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif directed the Foreign Office and director general Hajj to increase their efforts to locate missing pilgrims, Radio Pakistan reported.
The death toll in a crush rose to 769, Saudi Arabia said on Saturday.
The worst disaster to befall the annual pilgrimage in a quarter of a century occurred on Thursday as two large groups of pilgrims arrived together at a crossroads in Mina, a few kilometres outside the holy city.
"The latest statistics up to this hour reveal 769 dead. That is an increase of 52 on the previous figures," Saudi health minister Khalid al-Falih told a news conference.
Read: Eleven Pakistanis killed, 17 injured in Hajj stampede
"Those are the ones who died in various hospitals since the event," he said, adding that 934 people were wounded.
FO denies report claiming 236 Pakistanis were killed
The Foreign Office rejected a report in British newspaper, Guardian, claiming 236 Pakistanis were killed in the stampede.
Further, a statement issued by FO said the Pakistani embassy is facilitating identification of the deceased at the mortuary in Makkah along with efforts being made to locate missing the missing pilgrims.
Compensation
Prime Minister's Focal Person on Mina incident, Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhry announced on Monday a compensation of rupees 0.5 million for the heirs of each of the Pakistani killed in the tragedy and 0.2 million for the injured, Radio Pakistan reported.
He also said government would provide free medical treatment to the wounded persons after they return home.
Further, Fazal said two or three family members of each person killed in the incident would be sent on Umrah at the government's expense.