Father, son die while trying to overpower killer

ISLAMABAD: Two Pakistani nationals who were seriously injured while trying to overpower the gunman killing Muslims from different nationalities at the Al Noor mosque in Christchurch city, New Zealandon Friday died at the hospital, taking the death toll to 51.

Naeem Butt and his son Talha were at the mosque offering Friday prayers when the gunman entered the mosque and began spraying bullets without discrimination, local TV channels reported. While the gunman was busy killing people, the father and son duo tried to overpower him but unluckily they failed, receiving serious gunshot wounds. They died at the hospital.

Earlier on Friday, Foreign Office Spokesman Dr. Muhammad Faisal confirmed that four Pakistani nationals had been injured in the tragedy, while five were missing. He said the identity of the missing Pakistanis would soon be confirmed and announced by Pakistan’s High Commission in New Zealand.

The other Pakistanis injured in the incident are Syed Erab, 28, a chartered accountant from the Federal-B Area of Karachi, who received bullets in chest and ribs, Haroon Mehmood, 46, Muhammad Zahid and Syed Jehandad.