WASHINGTON: The city of Española, where slain Pakistani Muslim Afzaal Hussain worked as a town planning director, has laun­ched a ‘GoFundMe’ campaign to provide a “financial cushion” to the deceased’s family, which plans to open a welfare school under his name in Okara, Pakistan.

Afzaal Hussain, originally a resident of Hujra Shah Muqeem in Okara, was one of the four victims of a recent murder spree in New Mexico. All four deceased were Muslims — two Pakistanis and two Afghans.

“The monies will help provide a financial cushion since Afzaal was the sole family provider,” the city announced. The announcement also pointed out that Afzaal Hussain “loved education and community welfare and believed education empowers a person and a community”.

So, the funds will also be used to “initiate a quality modern school in Afzaal’s hometown in Pakistan, where poor and vulnerable children will be provided world-class education,” the city said, adding: “This was his dream.”

“We are planning to open a school in our village Hujra Shah Muqeem,” his brother Imtiaz Hussain said. “I assure you that we will utilise this fund for those who deserve it.”

Afzaal Hussain was a former student leader at the University of New Mexico, where he studied architecture.

He was also the first Muslim to head its alumni association.

“It has been heart-wrenching,” said Chaitanya Korra, who was with him at the university. “He was very easy to talk to and was jovial. [Afzaal was] very kind and always ready to help.”

Published in Dawn, August 25th, 2022