67-year-old Pakistani shot by NZ gunman remains in induced coma with critical injuries

Published March 17, 2019
People gather in front of floral tributes at a makeshift memorial for victims of the March 15 mosque terror attacks, in Christchurch on March 17, 2019. — AFP
People gather in front of floral tributes at a makeshift memorial for victims of the March 15 mosque terror attacks, in Christchurch on March 17, 2019. — AFP

Muhammad Amin Nasir, a 67-year-old Pakistani who was visiting his son in New Zealand, remains in an induced coma with critical injuries after a gunman shot bullets at him and his son on Friday. Nasir's condition, however, is said to have stabilised as compared to earlier.

On Friday, Nasir and his son were just 200 metres away from the Masjid Al Noor mosque when everything went wrong.

The father-son duo had no idea that a white supremacist had just killed at least 41 people inside the mosque. He also targeted a second, smaller mosque in the suburb of Linwood, where seven more died. The remaining victims succumbed in hospital.

A car that had been driving by suddenly stopped, and a man leaned out the window pointing a gun at them.

They ran as the bullets began to fly.

But at 67, Nasir could not keep up with his 35-year-old son. He fell behind by two or three fateful steps.

The gunman drove away.

A pool of blood poured from Nasir's body.

Nasir regularly visited his son in New Zealand and was on the third week of a visit when he was shot.

Foreign Office Spokesperson Dr Mohammad Faisal on Friday said Nasir was from Hafizabad. In a post on twitter, he added that Nasir was in the intensive care unit (ICU) in critical condition.

There have been no subsequent updates on Nasir's condition from the FO.

Dr Faisal on Sunday confirmed that three more Pakistanis — a son and his parents — died in the terrorist attacks on the two mosques, taking the total death toll of Pakistanis in the incident up to nine.

Also on Sunday, New Zealand police announced the death toll from the racist attacks had risen to 50 as anguished relatives awaited authorities to release the remains of those who were killed in the massacres.

Opinion

Editorial

Geopolitical games
Updated 18 Dec, 2024

Geopolitical games

While Assad may be gone — and not many are mourning the end of his brutal rule — Syria’s future does not look promising.
Polio’s toll
18 Dec, 2024

Polio’s toll

MONDAY’s attacks on polio workers in Karak and Bannu that martyred Constable Irfanullah and wounded two ...
Development expenditure
18 Dec, 2024

Development expenditure

PAKISTAN’S infrastructure development woes are wide and deep. The country must annually spend at least 10pc of its...
Risky slope
Updated 17 Dec, 2024

Risky slope

Inflation likely to see an upward trajectory once high base effect tapers off.
Digital ID bill
Updated 17 Dec, 2024

Digital ID bill

Without privacy safeguards, a centralised digital ID system could be misused for surveillance.
Dangerous revisionism
Updated 17 Dec, 2024

Dangerous revisionism

When hatemongers call for digging up every mosque to see what lies beneath, there is a darker agenda driving matters.