WASHINGTON, July 7: The US Congress has approved legislation that would grant permanent residency to the widow and daughters of a Pakistani national slain in a post-Sept 11 hate crime.

The private relief bill would allow Waqar Hasan's wife and children to remain in the United States if also approved by the US Senate. "I believe that there is no more crucial time to demonstrate to Muslims in America and around the world that we are a tolerant and sympathetic people," said Congressman Rush Holt, who sponsored the measure.

"We must seize opportunities to showcase America's commitment to the democratic values that we are making great sacrifices to promote overseas." The 46-year-old Waqar Hasan was shot to death in a Dallas convenience store he owned, four days after the Sept 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

He had lived with his family in Milltown, New Jersey, before heading to Texas. At the time of his death, he was looking for a house so that his family could join him. Durr-e-Shahwar Hasan and her four daughters - Asna, Anum, Iqra, and Nida - were in the country legally because of the visa her husband held.

Before his death, Waqar Hasan had applied for a green card, but that application became invalid upon his death, confronting his family with the threat of an almost certain deportation.

But Congressman Holt took up their cases and for the last two and a half years, he has been working with government agencies to keep the Hasan family in the United States.

"Congressman Rush Holt deserves the Pakistani community's gratitude for adopting the Hasan family case as a top agenda item," said a statement issued by the National Council of Pakistani Americans.

"Nearly three years after the murder of their husband and father, Duri, Asna, Anum, Nida, and Iqra received welcome and overdue news from the House of Representatives," said Rep. Holt.

"Today, Congress has helped them take a huge step towards putting the tragedy of Sept 15, 2001 behind them and restoring the dream of a better life that brought them to America."

"I am very thankful to my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for their support of this bill, and to the scores of citizens, activists, and religious leaders from New Jersey and throughout the country who have supported this effort," said Mr Holt.

"The Hasans are the type of industrious, freedom-loving people we want in this country and they deserve to stay here." Mark Anthony Stroman walked into Waqar Hasan's convenience store in Dallas, Texas, on the night of Sept 15, 2001, and shot him in the face. When asked by police why he shot Mr Hasan, the accused expressed no remorse.

"I did it to retaliate on local Arab Americans or whatever you want to call them," he said. "I did what every American wanted to do but didn't." Mr Stroman is now on death row. Waqar Hasan came to the United States in 1993 in search of a better life for his family. A year later, he also brought his wife and daughters.