Death toll of Pakistanis from pilgrimage stampede reaches 36: minister

Pakistani officials said on Monday that the death toll of its nationals from the stampede during the pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia has reached 36.

Pakistan's Minister for Religious Affairs, Sardar Muhammad Yousaf, told the state-run television that 85 Pakistani pilgrims are still missing.

He said contacts have been made with 217 missing Pakistani pilgrims and efforts are underway to reach the remaining missing pilgrims.

Saudi Health Minister Khalid al-Falih said the death toll in Thursday's stampede in Mina, neighboring the holy city Mecca, has risen to 769 while 934 are wounded.

The accident took place amid a rush of the stoning as part of Hajj rituals. Muslim pilgrims throw stones on a wall representing devil.

On the special instructions of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, the Ministry of Religious Affairs has established "Haj and Mina tragedy helpline" in order to provide necessary help and information to the families of missing pilgrims.

Two toll free numbers -- one in Saudi Arabia and another in Pakistan -- have been set up to provide information about the pilgrims.

The prime minister has also directed the ministry to make daily press briefing to keep abreast media.

Over 150,000 Pakistanis had gone for pilgrimage this year, according to officials.

Saudi Arabia is under fire particularly from rival Iran over" weaknesses" in the Hajj security plan, a charge rejected by the Kingdom. Saudi foreign minister accused Tehran of using the tragedy for "political purposes."

Saudi Arabia's top cleric, Sheikh Abdul Aziz al-Sheikh, said at the weekend the stampede was beyond human control and that the authorities are not responsible for what had happened.

It was the second major accident involving massive casualties this month in Saudi Arabia. Earlier in September, 111 pilgrims were killed and 331 others injured in a crane crash in the grand mosque of Mecca. Endi