‘National award’ for Pakistani victim of Christchurch
TEHRAN - Pakistani government has announced a national award for one of the victims of Christchurch mosque shootout last Friday, in which 49 people were killed, including nine Pakistani nationals.
Prime Minister Imran Khan announced that the award will be conferred posthumously on Naeem Rashid, a Pakistani man who lost his life while trying to prevent the attacker from shooting at other worshippers.
“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,” Khan tweeted.
Rashid, a resident of Abbottabad in Pakistan who was teaching at a college in New Zealand, has become a hero with his brave act. He also lost a 22-year old son in the attack.
Rashid received his early education at the Army Burn Hall College in Abbottabad and went to New Zealand for higher education, and eventually deciding to settle there.
According to Pakistan’s foreign office, a total of nine Pakistani nationals were killed in the attack that draw widespread condemnation across the world and exposed the terrorism of white supremacists.
Khan said his government was ready to extend all possible support to the families of Pakistani victims of the terrorist attack.
The attack was carried out by a white supremacist terrorist who claimed to be inspired by U.S. President Donald Trump and his far-right supporter Candance Owens.
A number of world leaders have condemned the terrorist attack and denounced far-right white supremacist terrorism and its supporters, including Trump.