A Pakistan man who lost his life while resisting the New Zealand mosque shooter earlier this year has been honoured with the Nishan-e-Shujaat medal.
His actions were honoured at the Templeton Community Centre in New Zealand on Saturday, when Rashid’s family were presented the Nishan-e-Shujaat medal.
His widow, Ambreen Naeem received the award and addressed the ceremony.
Nishan-e-Shujaat (Order of Bravery) is the highest civilian honour awarded by the Government of Pakistan for military and civilian acts of conspicuous gallantry, which are not always in the face of the enemy.
New Zealand was struck by two deadly attacks in Christchurch on March 15, with 50 people killed and another 20 seriously injured after gun assaults on mosques as Muslims offered the weekly prayers. A total of nine Pakistanis were martyred in the attack.
Naeem Rashid was injured in his bid to overpower the attacker and passed away on Saturday after succumbing to his injuries. His son, 22-year-old Talha Naeem, a civil engineering graduate, was among those who lost their lives in the shooting.
The Pakistani man was hailed as a hero in his home country and abroad for courageously resisting terrorist Brenton Tarrant as he opened fire indiscriminately at worshippers in New Zealand’s mosque during Friday prayers on March 15, 2019.
