Energy minister leads Saudi delegation to COP29 Baku    Saudi Cabinet upbeat about Riyadh summit strengthening joint action to stop Gaza war    "Tilal" launches "Heart of Khobar" project costing SR6 billion at "Cityscape Global" in Riyadh    Saudi Arabia advances 22 ranks in World Bank's Statistical Performance Index    EXPRO chief: Financial proceeds of expenditure efficiency amounted to SR1.15 trillion    Saudi drivers' income from delivery applications reaches SR1.1 billion in first 9 months of 2024    Saudi Champion Saeed Al-Mouri scores notable feat in Radical World Championship in Abu Dhabi with support from Bin-Shihon Group    'Marvels of Saudi Orchestra' to dazzle audience in Tokyo on Nov. 22    Pakistan PM visits MWL headquarters in Makkah    Riyadh: The hub of wisdom and the pillar of solidarity    Toxic smog in Pakistan is so bad you can see it from space    New Zealand PM says sorry for 'horrific' care home abuse    New arrests made in Amsterdam over violence after football match    Climate fight 'bigger than one election', says Biden's top envoy    Red Sea International Film Festival returns to Al Balad in its fourth edition    Rita Ora is tearful in tribute to Liam Payne at MTV Awards    'Art of the Kingdom': First traveling exhibition of contemporary Saudi art launched in Rio de Janeiro    France to deploy 4,000 police officers for UEFA Nations League match against Israel    Al Nassr edges past Al Riyadh with Mane's goal to move up to third    Al Ahli continues strong form with 2-0 win over Al Raed in Saudi Pro League    India puts blockbuster Pakistani film on hold    The Vikings and the Islamic world    Filipino pilgrim's incredible evolution from an enemy of Islam to its staunch advocate    Muted Eid celebrations for millions of Nigerian Muslims    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Pakistan community keen to welcome flood martyr's family
By Naif Masrahi
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 27 - 12 - 2009

The Pakistani community in Jeddah is proud of one of its own, Farman Ali Khan, a Pakistani karate champ who rescued 14 people during the Jeddah floods on Nov. 25 before being swept away in the deluge while he attempted to rescue the 15th person. The World Assembly of Muslim Youth (WAMY) is to sponsor the visit of Khan's family, comprising his widow and three daughters, to the Kingdom.
“They will soon visit Saudi Arabia as guests of the King,” said Mohammad Khan, Khan's brother, speaking exclusively to Saudi Gazette from Pakistan, where he was after accompanying his brother's body home.
The Pakistani community is keenly awaiting their visit. “Khan is a hero who deserves to be honored for his humanitarian service during the floods. We are keen to honor his family when they are here. Khan has set an example for each one of us and we wish to extend any help to the Pakistani consulate in Jeddah in this regard,” said Ehsanul Haq, convener of Pakistan Repatriation Council (PRC), a Jeddah-based social group. In a recent function, the group urged the Pakistani government to award a medal of bravery (Sitara-e-Juraat) to Khan.
Calling Khan a ‘role model', Tabassum Mohsin Alawi, president and founder of a Jeddah-based Pakistani women's group, said: “We are looking forward to welcome the wife and children of this selfless victim of the floods, who sacrificed his life for others at a time when the Muslims in other parts of the world are being killed by terrorists, who have nothing to do with Islam.”
“Once again,” she said, “Khan, as a member of the Pakistani community in Saudi Arabia has proved by sacrificing his life that Pakistanis and Saudis are brothers enjoying close ties, and we will never hesitate to offer our lives for our Saudi brothers in testing times.”
The Saudi government announced an amount of SR100,000 to be given to Khan's daughters.
WAMY has provided a lifetime orphan care program with financial aid of about SR600,000 to Khan's family. WAMY has also decided to build a school and a mosque in Khan's district ‘Khawaza Kheila' in Swat.
“The mosque and the school will be named after Farman Ali Khan in order to immortalize Khan's voluntary work for Muslims in the Kingdom and also to encourage Muslim youth all over the world to contribute in helping their Muslim brothers and sisters,” Dr. Mohammed Badahddah, WAMY assistant secretary general, told Saudi Gazette.
Khan's parents, who live in Swat, said they felt “proud” to know that their son's body was wrapped in the Saudi flag and that he was honored as a martyr.
“My relative in Jeddah told me that Khan saved 14 persons and every time he would think of different approaches to rescue people, including using tire tubes, wooden planks and ropes.
However, when he tried to save the life of one more person, he lost his balance and drowned,” said Khan's brother, Mohammad.
“His voluntary work of many years fills us with pride. When he was 16, he rescued an old man from fire. My brother was indeed a brave man,” he said.
Khan's corpse was airlifted to Swat, as requested by his daughters. M. Nasrullah Khan, Pakistani welfare consul at the Pakistani consulate, said: “On receiving the dead body of martyr Farman Ali Khan, we immediately finished the necessary arrangements to transfer it to his family in Pakistan.”
Meanwhile, the Pakistani government has allocated land in Islamabad along with Rs 500,000 in cash to Khan's daughters.
Khan has also become a sensation of sorts on popular social networking site Facebook, where Jeddah residents have started a campaign that goes by his name recognizing his selfless service during the floods. Many are demanding for granting Saudi citizenship to his family.
“We must honor Khan as a martyr who lost his life rescuing people, most of them Saudi nationals. We would be ashamed of ourselves if we did not realize what he did for Saudis in Jeddah,” said Ali Al-Zahrany, a Saudi citizen.
Mohammed Al-Harbi, another Saudi national, said: “I suggest that Jack Street in Quwaizah District be renamed ‘Farman Ali Khan' as he is now like a mirror reflecting all voluntary services during the Jeddah floods.”
Khan, 32, came to Saudi Arabia in 2001 to work in a grocery store located in the Kilo13 District in Jeddah. He is survived by his widow and three daughters Zubaida, 7, Madeeha, 6, and Jarira, 4.


Clic here to read the story from its source.