Slain soldier’s father to Trump: You have sacrificed nothing

Philadelphia, July 29 

The father of a Pakistani-origin Muslim American soldier, who was killed in the Iraq war, today lambasted Donald Trump for disrespecting minorities and “sowing division”, saying the Republican presidential nominee has “sacrificed nothing” for the country.

Asking Trump if he had ever read the US Constitution, Khizr Khan, father of Humayun SM Khan who was one of the 14 American Muslims who served the US forces for 10 years and died in Iraq in 2004, told Americans to vote for Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.

“Trump, you have sacrificed nothing,” Khan told a cheering audience at the Democratic National Convention here. “Do not take this election lightly. This is a historic election. I request you to please honour the sacrifice of my son,” Khan said.

Captain Khan, a University of Virginia graduate, was one among 14 American Muslims who gave their lives serving the US forces in Iraq war that followed the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

Before his speech, the Democratic National Committee released a video on Captain Khan. The video showcased a moving excerpt of Clinton’s December remarks on national security — delivered in Minneapolis — in which she paid honour to Captain Khan.

Khan alleged Trump consistently smears the character of Muslims. “He disrespects other minorities, women, judges, even his own party leadership. He vows to build walls and ban us from this country,” he said. — PTI