76 Pakistani pilgrims killed, 47 injured,60 missing, Senate told

ISLAMABAD: State Minister for Religious Affairs and Inter-faith Harmony Pir Aminul Hasnat Shah on Monday informed the Senate the number of martyred Pakistani pilgrims in the Mina tragedy stood at 76 besides injuries to 47 while 60 pilgrims were still missing.
Presenting a report in the House about the Mina tragedy, the minister said that martyrdom of 29 pilgrims had been confirmed by the Saudi authorities. He said that out of the total, 28 had been buried in Makkah Mukarramah while the body of one Asad Gillani had transported to Multan for burial.
He said that 40 injured were discharged from hospitals and seven were still under treatment.
However, the minister said there were 47 other martyrs according to eyewitnesses.
Pir Hasnat said personnel of Pakistani Haj Mission initially participated in rescue and relief activities but the access was denied once the Saudi Army and law enforcing personnel reached the scene of the tragedy.
He expressed the hope that the Saudi government would share outcome of the ongoing investigations into the incident.
The minister said that the Pakistan’s embassy and Haj Mission were in close contact with the Saudi authorities to trace the missing pilgrims.
The minister said that around 71,000 Hajis were sent under the government and private Haj tour operator schemes to Saudi Arabia this year.
Earlier, speaking on point of orders, lawmakers from both side of aisles expressed grief and sorrow over the sad tragedy and urged the government to take pragmatic steps to trace the missing persons.
They also called for access of the deceased and missing persons relatives to Saudi Arabia to identity their near one.
Those who spoke in the House included Farhatullah Babar, Saher Kamran, Chaudry Tanveer, Maulan Attaur Rehman, Mohsin Aziz, Usman Kakar, William, Kalsoom Parveen and Noman Wazir.