<p>The body of 17-year-old&nbsp;Pakistani exchange student Sabika Sheikh, who was killed in a mass shooting at Texas high school, arrived home for funeral in&nbsp;Pakistan's southern city of Karachi early on Wednesday (May 23).</p>

<p>Sheikh was killed with eight students and two teachers when a gunman attacked Santa Fe High School in Santa Fe, Texas. Students said the teenaged boy charged with fatally shooting 10 people, Dimitrios Pagourtzis, opened fire in an art class shortly before 8 a.m. on Friday (May 18).</p>

<p>A Turkish airliner, brought the coffin of Sheikh from Texas and was received by family members and officials of the U.S. Consulate at the airport, local media reported.</p>

<p>The body was transported to her residence, where bereaved family and mourning relatives were present. Her father, Aziz Sheikh, and her uncle Abdul Jaleel Sheikh accompanied the body from the airport to the residence in the ambulance.</p>

<p>Sabika was part of the YES exchange program funded by the U.S. State Department, which provides scholarships for students from countries with significant Muslim populations to spend an academic year in the United States. She had been due to return to&nbsp;Pakistan&nbsp;on June 9, at the end of the school year.</p>


Sheikh was killed with eight students and two teachers when a gunman attacked Santa Fe High School in Santa Fe, Texas.

The body of 17-year-old Pakistani exchange student Sabika Sheikh, who was killed in a mass shooting at Texas high school, arrived home for funeral in Pakistan's southern city of Karachi early on Wednesday (May 23). Sheikh was killed with eight students and two teachers when a gunman attacked Santa Fe High School in Santa Fe, Texas. Students said the teenaged boy charged with fatally shooting 10 people, Dimitrios Pagourtzis, opened fire in an art class shortly before 8 a.m. on Friday (May 18). A Turkish airliner, brought the coffin of Sheikh from Texas and was received by family members and officials of the U.S. Consulate at the airport, local media reported. The body was transported to her residence, where bereaved family and mourning relatives were present. Her father, Aziz Sheikh, and her uncle Abdul Jaleel Sheikh accompanied the body from the airport to the residence in the ambulance. Sabika was part of the YES exchange program funded by the U.S. State Department, which provides scholarships for students from countries with significant Muslim populations to spend an academic year in the United States. She had been due to return to Pakistan on June 9, at the end of the school year.

Coffin carrying body of slain Pakistani student killed in Texas school mass shooting arrives home

<p>A&nbsp;Pakistani&nbsp;exchange student killed in a mass shooting in Texas last week was buried in her hometown of Karachi on Wednesday, her coffin draped with Pakistan's green and white flag.</p>

<p>Sabika Sheikh, 17, was among eight students and two teachers killed in Texas when Santa Fe High School, southeast of Houston, on Friday joined a grim list of US&nbsp;schools and campuses where students and staff have been gunned down, stoking a divisive debate about gun laws.</p>

<p>Sheikh's body arrived in Pakistan on Tuesday night and the funeral was held at a graveyard near her home in Karachi in the middle-class Gulshe-e-Iqbal neighbourhood.</p>

<p>Among about 400 people at the funeral was US&nbsp;Ambassador David Hale and politicians from the provincial Sindh government.</p>

<p>"This innocent&nbsp;girl&nbsp;had gone to brighten the name of Pakistan," Amir Khan, a senior leader of the Muttahida Quami Movement party which forms the city government in Karachi, told reporters at the funeral.</p>

<p>"But due to bad luck in a country that accuses the world of terrorism, she became a victim of terrorism herself."</p>

<p>Sheikh's father, Aziz, said earlier the thought of school shootings had never crossed his mind when he sent Sabika to study in the United States.</p>

<p>"Sabika's case should become an example to change the gun laws," Aziz Sheikh told Reuters.</p>

<p>Sabika was part of the YES exchange programme funded by the US&nbsp;State Department, which provides scholarships for students from countries with significant Muslim populations to spend an academic year in the United States.</p>

<p>She was due to return to Pakistan on June 9.</p>

<p>"I have no words to express my feelings," family friend Mohammad Ali said after the coffin arrived at the family home. "It is a great loss to Pakistan. She wanted to do a lot for this country."</p>


Sabika Sheikh, 17, was among eight students and two teachers killed in Texas when Santa Fe High School

A Pakistani exchange student killed in a mass shooting in Texas last week was buried in her hometown of Karachi on Wednesday, her coffin draped with Pakistan's green and white flag. Sabika Sheikh, 17, was among eight students and two teachers killed in Texas when Santa Fe High School, southeast of Houston, on Friday joined a grim list of US schools and campuses where students and staff have been gunned down, stoking a divisive debate about gun laws. Sheikh's body arrived in Pakistan on Tuesday night and the funeral was held at a graveyard near her home in Karachi in the middle-class Gulshe-e-Iqbal neighbourhood. Among about 400 people at the funeral was US Ambassador David Hale and politicians from the provincial Sindh government. "This innocent girl had gone to brighten the name of Pakistan," Amir Khan, a senior leader of the Muttahida Quami Movement party which forms the city government in Karachi, told reporters at the funeral. "But due to bad luck in a country that accuses the world of terrorism, she became a victim of terrorism herself." Sheikh's father, Aziz, said earlier the thought of school shootings had never crossed his mind when he sent Sabika to study in the United States. "Sabika's case should become an example to change the gun laws," Aziz Sheikh told Reuters. Sabika was part of the YES exchange programme funded by the US State Department, which provides scholarships for students from countries with significant Muslim populations to spend an academic year in the United States. She was due to return to Pakistan on June 9. "I have no words to express my feelings," family friend Mohammad Ali said after the coffin arrived at the family home. "It is a great loss to Pakistan. She wanted to do a lot for this country."

Pakistani girl killed in Texas school shooting buried in Karachi

<p>The father of a Pakistani girl killed in a Texas school shooting said on Monday he hoped that the death of his daughter, who wanted to serve her country as a civil servant or diplomat, would help spur gun control in the United States.&nbsp</p>

<p>Santa Fe High School, southeast of Houston, on Friday joined a grim list of US&nbspschools and campuses where students and staff have been gunned down, stoking a divisive US&nbspdebate about gun laws.</p>

<p>Among the eight students and two teachers killed in Texas was 17-year-old Pakistani exchange student Sabika Sheikh.</p>

<p>"Sabika's case should become an example to change the gun laws," her father, Aziz Sheikh told Reuters, speaking by telephone from the family home in the city of Karachi.</p>

<p>Most Pakistani youngsters dream of studying abroad, with the United States the favourite destination for many.</p>

<p>Aziz Sheikh said the danger of a school shooting had not crossed his mind when he sent Sabika to study in the United States for a year.</p>

<p>Now he wants her death to help spur change.</p>

<p>"It has become so common," he said of school shootings.</p>

<p>"I want this to become a base on which the people over there can stand and pass a law to deal with this. I`ll do whatever I can," he said.</p>

<p>Students said the teenaged boy charged with fatally shooting 10 people, Dimitrios Pagourtzis, opened fire in an art class shortly before 8 a.m. on Friday.</p>

<p>Sabika was part of the YES exchange programme funded by the U.S. State Department, which provides scholarships for students from countries with significant Muslim populations to spend an academic year in the United States.</p>

<p>Sabika loved her time in Texas, Sheikh said.</p>

<p>"She appreciated it so much. She was so excited to be there and to study and meet the people, especially the teachers," he said.</p>

<p>Her family spoke to her every day and she had been due to return to Pakistan on June 9, at the end of the school year.</p>

<p>US secretary of state Mike Pompeo offered his condolences in a statement on Saturday, saying Sabika was "helping to build ties between the United States and her native Pakistan".</p>

<p>Her father said Sabika had wanted to work in government in some capacity, to help her country.</p>

<p>"She would say she wanted to join the foreign office or the civil service," her father said.&nbsp</p>

<p>"The reason was that she said was there is a lot of talent in Pakistan but the image and perception of the country was really bad, and she wanted to clear that up."</p>

<p>The US&nbspambassador to Pakistan, David Hale, visited the family in Karachi to offer condolences, the U.S. embassy said in a statement.</p>


Santa Fe High School, southeast of Houston, on Friday joined a grim list of US schools and campuses where students and staff have been gunned down, stoking a divisive US debate about gun laws

The father of a Pakistani girl killed in a Texas school shooting said on Monday he hoped that the death of his daughter, who wanted to serve her country as a civil servant or diplomat, would help spur gun control in the United States. Santa Fe High School, southeast of Houston, on Friday joined a grim list of US&nbspschools and campuses where students and staff have been gunned down, stoking a divisive US&nbspdebate about gun laws. Among the eight students and two teachers killed in Texas was 17-year-old Pakistani exchange student Sabika Sheikh. "Sabika's case should become an example to change the gun laws," her father, Aziz Sheikh told Reuters, speaking by telephone from the family home in the city of Karachi. Most Pakistani youngsters dream of studying abroad, with the United States the favourite destination for many. Aziz Sheikh said the danger of a school shooting had not crossed his mind when he sent Sabika to study in the United States for a year. Now he wants her death to help spur change. "It has become so common," he said of school shootings. "I want this to become a base on which the people over there can stand and pass a law to deal with this. I`ll do whatever I can," he said. Students said the teenaged boy charged with fatally shooting 10 people, Dimitrios Pagourtzis, opened fire in an art class shortly before 8 a.m. on Friday. Sabika was part of the YES exchange programme funded by the U.S. State Department, which provides scholarships for students from countries with significant Muslim populations to spend an academic year in the United States. Sabika loved her time in Texas, Sheikh said. "She appreciated it so much. She was so excited to be there and to study and meet the people, especially the teachers," he said. Her family spoke to her every day and she had been due to return to Pakistan on June 9, at the end of the school year. US secretary of state Mike Pompeo offered his condolences in a statement on Saturday, saying Sabika was "helping to build ties between the United States and her native Pakistan". Her father said Sabika had wanted to work in government in some capacity, to help her country. "She would say she wanted to join the foreign office or the civil service," her father said. "The reason was that she said was there is a lot of talent in Pakistan but the image and perception of the country was really bad, and she wanted to clear that up." The US&nbspambassador to Pakistan, David Hale, visited the family in Karachi to offer condolences, the U.S. embassy said in a statement.

Father of Pakistani girl killed in Texas hopes her death can spur reform

<div>Eight students and two teachers fell victim to gunfire at a high school outside Houston on Friday morning, becoming the latest casualties in a wave of deadly school shootings in the United States in recent years.</div>

<div>&nbsp</div>

<div>Among the fatalities at Santa Fe High School were a Pakistani exchange student and a substitute teacher trying to make ends meet for her family. Here are brief profiles of some of the victims:</div>

<div>&nbsp</div>

<div>Sabika Sheikh</div>

<div>&nbsp</div>

<div>A 17-year-old Pakistani with a bright smile, Sheikh was proud to be studying in the United States as an exchange student. The experience was organized through YES, a program funded by the U.S. State Department which provides scholarships for students from countries with significant Muslim populations to spend one academic year in the United States.</div>

<div>&nbsp</div>

<div>Her father told reporters in her hometown of Karachi that she was the eldest of four children and due to return to Pakistan next month for Eid al-Fitr, a three day holiday that marks the end of the holy Muslim month of Ramadan.</div>

<div>&nbsp</div>

<div>Cynthia Tisdale</div>

<div>&nbsp</div>

<div>Tisdale was a substitute teacher at Santa Fe High School. She took on a second job as a server at a local restaurant after she became her family's sole income earner when her husband was diagnosed with an incurable lung disease, her brother-in-law John Tisdale posted on Facebook. The Tisdales have four children.</div>

<div>&nbsp</div>

<div>Ann Perkins</div>

<div>&nbsp</div>

<div>Perkins was a substitute teacher known to students and other members of the Santa Fe community as "Grandma Perkins" for her love of spending time with her children, grandchildren and students, according to a local CBS affiliate.</div>

<div>&nbsp</div>

<div>Christian Riley Garcia</div>

<div>&nbsp</div>

<div>Garcia was remembered on Facebook by the Crosby Church pastor who baptized him years earlier. A photograph of Garcia, 15, taken just days before the shooting, shows him wearing sunglasses, a baseball cap and a slight smile that reveals braces on his teeth.</div>

<div>&nbsp</div>

<div>"Here is Riley about ten days ago writing scripture on the door frame of what was to be his new bedroom," Pastor Keenan Smith wrote. "Riley you are greatly loved and greatly missed."</div>

<div>&nbsp</div>

<div>Kimberly Vaughan</div>

<div>&nbsp</div>

<div>After a desperate search for her missing daughter, U.S. Army veteran Rhonda Hart posted to Facebook that Vaughan had been shot dead in her first-period art class.</div>

<div>&nbsp</div>

<div>"Folks - call your damn senators. Call your congressmen. We need GUN CONTROL. WE NEED TO PROTECT OUR KIDS. #Kimberlyjessica," Hart wrote in a Facebook post.</div>

<div>&nbsp</div>

<div>Shana Fisher</div>

<div>&nbsp</div>

<div>Just one week after she celebrated her 16th birthday, Fisher was killed when the gunman opened fire on the art class, her aunt wrote on Twitter. "She should be getting her first car, not a funeral," tweeted @candithurman.</div>

<div>&nbsp</div>

<div>Chris Stone</div>

<div>&nbsp</div>

<div>Stone, 17, had a passion for adventure and football. The high school junior's Facebook page features photographs of such sports heroes as the Dallas Cowboys and scenic views of breathtaking wilderness.</div>

<div>&nbsp</div>

<div>Angelique Ramirez</div>

<div>&nbsp</div>

<div>Ramirez's aunt Sylvia Pritchett, a nurse, frantically asked colleagues on Facebook if her niece was at an area hospital after she was told she had been shot in the leg. Later Pritchett announced that Ramirez was among the fatalities, saying that she had "a broken heart and a soul that can't process all this right now," and to "hug your children tightly."</div>

<div>&nbsp</div>

<div>Jared Conard Black</div>

<div>&nbsp</div>

<div>Black, who according to his Facebook page liked to draw anime pictures, celebrated his 17th birthday just two days before he was shot dead, his uncle told KTRK-TV.</div>

<div>&nbsp</div>

<div>According to a GoFundMe set up by a family friend to raise money for relatives to fly to the funeral from California, Jared's father "sat in misery for 13 hours not knowing if (his son) was one of the victims. Then he got the devastating news."</div>

<div>&nbsp</div>

<div>Kyle McLeod</div>

<div>&nbsp</div>

<div>ABC News reported that McLeod, 15, was among the students killed.</div>


The 17-year-old Pakistani with a bright smile, Sabika Sheikh was proud to be studying in the United States as an exchange student

Eight students and two teachers fell victim to gunfire at a high school outside Houston on Friday morning, becoming the latest casualties in a wave of deadly school shootings in the United States in recent years. Among the fatalities at Santa Fe High School were a Pakistani exchange student and a substitute teacher trying to make ends meet for her family. Here are brief profiles of some of the victims: Sabika Sheikh A 17-year-old Pakistani with a bright smile, Sheikh was proud to be studying in the United States as an exchange student. The experience was organized through YES, a program funded by the U.S. State Department which provides scholarships for students from countries with significant Muslim populations to spend one academic year in the United States. Her father told reporters in her hometown of Karachi that she was the eldest of four children and due to return to Pakistan next month for Eid al-Fitr, a three day holiday that marks the end of the holy Muslim month of Ramadan. Cynthia Tisdale Tisdale was a substitute teacher at Santa Fe High School. She took on a second job as a server at a local restaurant after she became her family's sole income earner when her husband was diagnosed with an incurable lung disease, her brother-in-law John Tisdale posted on Facebook. The Tisdales have four children. Ann Perkins Perkins was a substitute teacher known to students and other members of the Santa Fe community as "Grandma Perkins" for her love of spending time with her children, grandchildren and students, according to a local CBS affiliate. Christian Riley Garcia Garcia was remembered on Facebook by the Crosby Church pastor who baptized him years earlier. A photograph of Garcia, 15, taken just days before the shooting, shows him wearing sunglasses, a baseball cap and a slight smile that reveals braces on his teeth. "Here is Riley about ten days ago writing scripture on the door frame of what was to be his new bedroom," Pastor Keenan Smith wrote. "Riley you are greatly loved and greatly missed." Kimberly Vaughan After a desperate search for her missing daughter, U.S. Army veteran Rhonda Hart posted to Facebook that Vaughan had been shot dead in her first-period art class. "Folks - call your damn senators. Call your congressmen. We need GUN CONTROL. WE NEED TO PROTECT OUR KIDS. #Kimberlyjessica," Hart wrote in a Facebook post. Shana Fisher Just one week after she celebrated her 16th birthday, Fisher was killed when the gunman opened fire on the art class, her aunt wrote on Twitter. "She should be getting her first car, not a funeral," tweeted @candithurman. Chris Stone Stone, 17, had a passion for adventure and football. The high school junior's Facebook page features photographs of such sports heroes as the Dallas Cowboys and scenic views of breathtaking wilderness. Angelique Ramirez Ramirez's aunt Sylvia Pritchett, a nurse, frantically asked colleagues on Facebook if her niece was at an area hospital after she was told she had been shot in the leg. Later Pritchett announced that Ramirez was among the fatalities, saying that she had "a broken heart and a soul that can't process all this right now," and to "hug your children tightly." Jared Conard Black Black, who according to his Facebook page liked to draw anime pictures, celebrated his 17th birthday just two days before he was shot dead, his uncle told KTRK-TV. According to a GoFundMe set up by a family friend to raise money for relatives to fly to the funeral from California, Jared's father "sat in misery for 13 hours not knowing if (his son) was one of the victims. Then he got the devastating news." Kyle McLeod ABC News reported that McLeod, 15, was among the students killed.

Texas school shooting victims included smiling Pakistani girl

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Texas school shooting victims included smiling Pakistani girl