CHRISTCHURCH: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday called his New Zealand counterpart Jacinda Ardern and lauded her role in the “humane handling” of Christchurch terror attack.
The premier thanked Ardern and said that the “Pakistani nation is grateful to you for your commendable steps and humane handling of the situation.”
Khan also lauded Ardern for respecting the sentiments of Muslims.
“You have set an example for world leaders in the face of rising Islamophobia and global extremism,” he further said.
Earlier, New Zealand decided to ban military-style semi-automatic and assault rifles under tough new gun laws following the killing of 50 people in the country’s worst mass shooting, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said on Thursday.
Ardern said she expects the new laws to be in place by April 11 and buy-back scheme will be established for banned weapons.
“Now, six days after this attack, we are announcing a ban on all military-style semi-automatics (MSSA) and assault rifles in New Zealand,” Ardern said.
“Related parts used to convert these guns into MSSAs are also being banned, along with all high-capacity magazines.”
A lone gunman armed with semi-automatic rifles including an AR-15, last Friday killed 50 people in two mosque attacks in Christchurch.