Wednesday 30 / October / 2024
MUSCAT: The Pakistan Ambassador to the Sultanate of Oman, Imran Ali, described the events of Monday’s attack in Al Wadi Al Kabir as “a very difficult and disturbing day,” but expressed relief that “the worst is over.”
Speaking to the Times of Oman after it was confirmed that four Pakistani expatriates were among the nine killed in the attack, Ambassador Imran Ali said, “It is heartbreaking to see innocent lives lost. Today has been extremely challenging, and we are doing everything we can to support the affected families. It could have been worse, but thanks to the strong and swift actions of the Royal Oman Police and security officials, many lives were saved.”
He continued, “I was greatly relieved to see the majority of worshippers rescued late in the night around 2:15 am. The Pakistan embassy has been on high alert, providing all possible assistance to affected Pakistani citizens. We can confirm the identities of the four Pakistani victims: Ghulam Abbas, Hasan Abbas, Sayyed Qaisar Abbas, and Sulaiman Nawaz. We are working to facilitate the early repatriation of their bodies.”
Ambassador Ali said, “We are in constant contact with Omani authorities regarding the repatriation of the mortal remains of the Pakistanis who died in the attack. We have also established a helpline to address queries from the community and provide assistance to those in Oman.”
The ambassador visited local hospitals to check on the well-being of injured Pakistanis.
Earlier in the day, Ambassador Ali had posted a video message on X, urging citizens to avoid travelling to Wadi Al Kabir as the area had been cordoned off.
In the video, he mentioned that he had visited three to four hospitals to see the injured, noting that “all those injured are relatively safe.”
Emergency contact numbers have been provided for those staying in Oman. Any citizen with an injured relative can reach the embassy through the numbers shared on X by the Pakistan embassy.
Ambassador Ali urged Pakistani citizens to cooperate with local authorities and reassured that the embassy was in continuous communication with hospitals and officials.
Meanwhile, the affected area remained cordoned off on Tuesday, with access to the mosque restricted. Most residents preferred to stay indoors, according to a Times of Oman journalist on the scene.
