On March 23rd, I got a lovely email from my dear
Pakistan pen pal, Suhael Ahmed, saying how much our Prime Minister is loved in
Pakistan which is wonderful to know. I think Jacinda Ardern has been a tower of
strength throughout this tragedy and has shown real leadership. Suhael is a good
friend of mine from the Pakistan city of Lahore in Punjab. He always sends me a
Christmas card and I also send him some mail with photos and Christmas cards.
He was tower of strength to me when the fires were happening around Nelson and I
love Suhael for that. We have been a pen
pals since about 2016.
Below is a copy of the letter a friend of his sent to
our prime minister.
You have won the hearts and souls of we Pakistanis by saying that “Your heart and soul is with the bereaved families” and you have made us feel proud of you for what all you have done to venerate the martyrdom of the Muslims of Christchurch and how have the New Zealanders under your leadership risen as one to show their solidarity with the bereaved families and share their grief in their hour of great calamity. How do I wish we could do even an iota of it for some of our minorities (Ahmedis, Christians and Hindus) who at times suffer even more gruesome and horrific fate at the hands of some of our obscurant and illiterate extremists and that too ironically in the name of Islam.
Thank you, Madam, and God bless you for it.
Col. Riaz Jafri (Retd)
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