Christchurch shootings: PM announces award for Pakistani hero

ISLAMABAD: Lauding heroics of a Pakistani man, who embraced martyrdom after trying to stop the Christchurch shooter, Prime Minister Imran Khan said on Sunday his courage would be recognised with a national award.

“Pakistan is proud of Mian Naeem Rashid who was martyred trying to tackle the White Supremacist terrorist & his courage will be recognized with a national award,” he said in a tweet.

The prime minister said the country stands ready to extend all support to the bereaved families of Pakistani victims of the terrorist attack in Christchurch.

We stand ready to extend all our support to the families of Pakistani victims of the terrorist attack in Christchurch. Pakistan is proud of Mian Naeem Rashid who was martyred trying to tackle the White Supremacist terrorist & his courage will be recognized with a national award.

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) March 17, 2019

50-year old Rashid who hailed from Abbottabad was a university professor. He received martyrdom along with his 21-year-old son Talha in the Christchurch attacks when a self-confessed white supremacist Brenton Tarrant opened fire during Friday prayers, killing at least 50 and leaving two dozen others injured.

Read More: Pakistani man, his son martyred while saving worshippers from NZ mosque attacker

Naeem Rashid and his son Dr Talha Naeem were present at the Al Noor Mosque when the attacker barged into the mosque and started, everyone coming in his way, spraying with bullets.