Mina stampede: Deaths of 19 Pakistani pilgrims confirmed

E-Paper | October 17, 2026

Mina stampede: Deaths of 19 Pakistani pilgrims confirmed

Dawn.com Published September 27, 2015

MAKKAH: At least 19 Pakistani pilgrims have been confirmed dead while 20 are reported injured after a stampede which killed more than 700 in Mina outside the holy city of Makkah on Thursday.

The Ministry of Religious Affairs had earlier confirmed the deaths of 18 pilgrims, while another pilgrim Sher Afzal Khan was confirmed dead by family members.

Nasir Khan, brother of the deceased, told DawnNews that Sher Afzal, who was a resident of Peshawar's Dalazak Road, had been killed during the fatal stampede in Mina.

According to a list published by the Ministry of Religious Affairs, the deceased persons include Hafsa Shoaib, Zarin Naseem, Syeda Narjis Shahnaz, Bibi Zainab, Mahmood Arshad, Rasheedan Bibi, Zahid Gul, Dr. Ameer Ali Lashari and Makhdoomzada Syed Asad Murtaza Gillani, Abdul Rehman, Shehnaz Qamar, Islam Ahmad, Bushra Bibi, Muhammad Hasrat, Azeem Khan, Muhammad Idrees, Aamir Muhammad Malook and Gul Shahnaz.

Details of Pakistanis confirmed dead in the Mina stampede. ─ Courtesy: Ministry of Religious Affairs

Of the 20 Pakistani pilgrims who were injured during the tragedy, 12 have been discharged from hospitals, while the remaining eight are receiving medical aid in Mina ul Wadi Hospital, Mina Dispensary No. 5 or King Abdullah Hospital Jeddah.

Details of Pakistanis injured in the stampede. ─ Courtesty: Ministry of Religious Affairs

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif directed the Foreign Office and Director General Haj to double their efforts for finding missing pilgrims and re-uniting them with their respective families.

Pakistanis wishing to inquire about their loved ones are advised to call emergency helpline numbers 00966125458000 and 0096612527753.

Moreover the Foreign Office has also rejected claims made by Britain's Guardian newspaper that 236 Pakistanis were killed in the fatal crush.

Also read: Haj stampede death toll rises to 769, Iran denounces 'crime'

At least 769 pilgrims were killed while 934 were injured on Thursday in a stampede at Mina where some two million people performed Haj.

It is the worst disaster to strike the annual pilgrimage in 25 years.

The tragedy occurred when two large groups of pilgrims arrived together at a crossroads on their way to performing the symbolic stoning of the devil, the Saudi civil defence directorate said.

Soon after the incident, Saudi King Salman had said that he had ordered a review of the kingdom's plans for the annual Haj pilgrimage.

King Salman, speaking in a live speech broadcast by Saudi-owned al-Arabiya television, said he had asked for a swift investigation into what he described as a painful incident.

Also read: Witnesses blame Saudi officials for Haj horror

— with additional reporting from Ali Akbar

Imtiaz

Sep 27, 2015 12:59pm

Pakistani channels have also reported 311 missing and 76 found Pakistani Hajis. That leaves 235 unaccounted for.

Recommend 0

wondipuli

Sep 27, 2015 01:03pm

I think Death toll is not going to stop now it may increase further, day by day toll is keep on increasing, I wonder when we will get the final chart, India has lost more than 20 lives and still creeping upwards , My heart goes out to the people who lost their life.

Recommend 0

M.Saeed

Sep 27, 2015 01:10pm

The most unfortunate for the Hajis. But, it reminds of the old-timers who used to recite poetic prayers that they wanted death and burial in the holy land of Mecca after Hajj !

Recommend 0

Tanvir

Sep 27, 2015 01:19pm

This is another Saudi authorities failure that the cannot identify people who died, i remember in 2000 when we did the hajj we were all wearing steel bracelets with our identification on them, this was supposed to ensure Hajis are identified in a few hours not days

Recommend 0

علي رضا

Sep 27, 2015 01:41pm

I am a doctor at Alnoor Specialist Hospital Makkah.We have one Pakistani injured with name of Hamid Khan from Mina stampede.....anyone has any clues about him? My email is thoraxic@hotmail.com

Recommend 0

Sep 27, 2015 02:49pm

Why is the Pakistan government hiding the exact death toll of the Pakistani Hajis killed at Mina stampede in Saudi Arabia? The international press is reporting that 236 Pakistanis have died so far. The Guardian of UK is confirming 236 deaths of the Hajis from Pakistan which is highest number killed from any of the countries. The second highest deaths are of 131 Hajis from Iran as per The Guardian.

Recommend 0

IQBAL MALIK

Sep 27, 2015 04:49pm

@AW so Pakistanis will not demand to their government to condemn this carelessness of the Saudis.

Recommend 0

Syed Husain

Sep 27, 2015 05:01pm

The Grand Mufti of Mecca has stated that these deaths had nothing to do with the incompetence of Saudis, it was the will of the Almighty. Brilliant statement. Now the Royal family will let him keep his job.

Recommend 0

Riaz

Sep 27, 2015 05:32pm

@AW looks like we are trying to prove our friendship with kings men!!

Recommend 0

Sep 27, 2015 06:24pm

As an independent nation and in light of this high number of casualties, we should demand an independent investigation from the International authorities. Quit acting like lame ducks and act like a sovereign nation. This is a gross negligent and shows total incompetence of Aale Saud. Pakistan should protest to SA and demand why this cannot be termed as SA Govt. failure in managing Haj pilgrimage. And why should not Haj be supervised by all Islamic nations going forward. But why will our Govt. raise the voice...they all get fed from the kings spoon. May God give strength to the family members of deceased in this difficult time.

Recommend 0

Iqbal Hadi Zaidi

Sep 27, 2015 07:04pm

I have my serious doubts that we will know how many have died or injured because we are to tally depending upon Saudi authorities to tell us about Pakistan fatalities but to me if all those Pakistanis who are performing haj if they themselves inform Pakistan as to who is missing from their group all will know where we stand but if we are not toned alike then the whole nation shall keep on groping in pitch darkness as to who died. Pakistani hajis must rise to the occasion and do the needful which is in the greater interest of the whole nation to be honest and sooner it is done the best it would be. Days and not hours have already been wasted and our picture is as hazy as it was on 1st day. Iqbal Hadi Zaidi / Kuwait / zaidi.x.diplomat@hotmail.com

Recommend 0

Mohammed Nabeel Pervez

Sep 27, 2015 07:21pm

So sad. May all the affected families find solace. I'm sure the Saudis must have prepared well but sometimes things just happen. Hopefully the next time the preparations will be even better.

Recommend 0

Malik

Sep 27, 2015 07:42pm

Why is Pakistani media including the government is silent on the colossal negligence of SA's government. Why could they not learnt simple principles of traffic control? It was told that they did not have instructions in many foreign language. First of all, they had changed substantially all the roads, bridges, pedestrians, highways and the architecture around holy places (which even NYTimes had written article). The death of 1000 or more exclusive of the injured is great tragedy for which some heads should be rolled. The Saudi government is quick to execute simple Pakistani drug peddlers protecting the ultimate consumers. Let us see how they do here to the culprits. The Crown Prince does not need any favorable statement from the Imam of Kaaba for his exoneration, but from the innocent people who had saved each and every dollar all of their lives to perform Hajj. Finally, I had not seen any compensation package for the victims and their families. Is there any dearth of money there?

Recommend 0

Jalbani Baloch

Sep 27, 2015 07:46pm

Sad and bad performance of the Hajj Directorate and the Embassy of Pakistan in Saudi Arabia, as they don't have exact figures, which keep on rising with the passage of time. The Guardian Newspaper of England has reported that more than 200 Pakistanis have been killed in the stampede in Mina, and if it is true, then Pakistanis account for a higher number of death toll in this tragedy. Other countries have reacted sharply and have even rejected the claim of host country that the tragedy was beyond a human control, but nothing seems to have bothered Pakistan and it has remained clueless even about the exact figure of its citizens killed or injured.

Recommend 0

zakir hussain

Sep 27, 2015 08:29pm

Is there somebody who has the idea ; how actually this tragic incident happened and who,s gonna accept the responsibilitu?

Recommend 0

RA Khan

Sep 27, 2015 08:40pm

We are all witness to Saudi attrocities during Hajj, the way they deal with poor people. They should accept and realize why the whole world is talking about them. Make accountablty for all, correct mistakes. Give a human touch to this bless occasion not just money making opportunity.

Recommend 0

Sep 27, 2015 09:33pm

Look into languages of signs, announcements, and police all using Arabic vs. the millions from all parts of the world speaking hundreds of languages--almost all non-Arabic. Now think about managing an event of this magnitude with essentially zero communication between the organizers and the throngs. Recipe for repeated disasters. Peace.

Recommend 0

sam

Sep 27, 2015 10:26pm

@Riaz Custodian of 2 holly mosques and host to pilgrims should accept responsibility for unfortunate accident related incompetent management, gross negligence and now continued defiance; Seen it before, been there and anticipated it; so call it ?Destiny.

Recommend 0

ejaz

Sep 27, 2015 10:50pm

Saudi govt. should pay all the victim families who got injured or dead in this stampede. they makes tons of dollars from the Haj industry.

Recommend 0

Maham

Sep 27, 2015 11:42pm

@علي رضا hi, would you know of any Muhammad zubair Ahmed and mrs Rana iftikhar from Pakistan - they are missing since mina stampede. Their family members mr iftikhar and mr talmeez received martyrdom (which isn't mentioned in this article surprisingly) but mr zubair and his mother are missing. Pls check your hospital lists pls

Recommend 0

KSA

Sep 27, 2015 11:46pm

@Riaz - Either that or the Pakistani government literally has no clue how many Pakistanis have lost their lives. Pakistan embassy in KSA is one of the worst diplomatic missions any country has on this planet. Worst part is, they get away with it perfectly easily. There is no one to help these stranded Pakistanis.

Recommend 0

aby

Sep 28, 2015 03:49am

@علي رضا Any girls of pakistani national Bushra , rida , khadija? They r missing since that day

Recommend 0

Shakil USA

Sep 28, 2015 05:17am

It happened before, and will happen again unless the Saudi government takes more measures to try to prevent it. Pakistan shall demand criminal investigation.

Recommend 0

Branded Content

The IPO Pakistan has not seen yet

ABHI Microfinance Bank holds a microfinance banking license in Pakistan, branch and branchless, run with the speed and discipline of a technology company rather than a traditional branch network.

Reckitt Pakistan launches its first AI-powered long-format animation to help build healthy hygiene habits under Saaf Sehatmand Pakistan

Unveiled on Global Handwashing Day, Reckitt Pakistan’s animation adds a new chapter to the Dettol Hygiene Education Program, teaching children why washing hands with soap matters.