Pakistani Woman among 14 Killed in NY Shooting

 

People attend a news conference at the Islamic Organization of the Southern Tier in Johnson City, NY, Sunday, April 5, 2009. The news conference was held before a planned funeral service for Layla Khalil of Iraq and Parveen Ali of Pakistan, who were killed by a gunman on Friday at the American Civic Association, Binghamton

New York: A young Pakistani woman was among a total of 14 people from eight different countries who were killed in Friday’s deadly shooting rampage in Binghamton, New York, local authorities said on Sunday.
Parveen Ali, 26, came to the United States in 2001 with her mother and two brothers from northern Pakistan, according to media reports. She worked odd jobs at a gas station and hotel while trying to get her high school equivalency diploma. She eventually wanted to go to college and become a teacher.
She was like a mother to her 24-year-old brother, Nadar Ali. “It’s an extreme pain,” he said. He described his sister as “like the base of our family.” How can I describe it to you? She played a significant role in our family.”
Parveen Ali recently gained citizenship, which allowed her to sponsor two younger brothers still in Pakistan to come to the US, said Kaniz Fatima, a family friend. “All her dreams are buried with her,” Fatima said.

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