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Abu Dhabi: On Sunday night, Mohammad Siddique, Executive Assistant to the Commercial Consul at the Pakistan Embassy, went out after dinner for his usual walk. This time his wife did not accompany the 55-year-old envoy. He never returned, as he was knocked down by a four-wheel drive vehicle and killed on the spot.
"He told his wife that he would pick up Pakistani oranges and walked towards Khalidiya Mall to combine his shopping with his routine walk.
"He was crossing the road in the designated area when a car hit him. He died on the spot.
"The family was contacted by a security official from the embassy an hour later," said Sabahat Zafir, who works at the embassy and knew Siddique and his family well.
"Usually his wife went with him on his walks, a 30-minute routine he followed ever since he had been posted here six months ago," said Sabahat, showing pictures of the Siddique family taken at a birthday party for one of their children on February 8.
Bilal Khan Pasha, Commercial Consul, described him as a "thorough gentleman", who worked hard as a professional.
"What impressed me most was that he was always smiling. I have known him since 2001.
"He was offered a choice between Abu Dhabi and other Middle East and Far East cities, but he was keen to come here. He joined us last year on August 22," said Pasha.
Mohammad Hussain, who is also Executive Assistant to the Commercial Consul, was badly shaken by the accident.
"I have known him for 30 years. On that fateful day he gave me a watch as a present. Around 11 o'clock he went out to do some work. He offered to pick up my children and drop them off at home. My children were shocked by the accident as he had often praised them on their performance at school," said Hussain
Siddique's Abu Dhabi posting would have been his last one and this Pakistan Ministry of Commerce official was looking forward to a long association with the UAE.
"His second son, Mohammad Nadeem, had just secured a UAE driving licence.
"He was looking for a job, which meant my close friend would have been visiting the UAE to see his son even after his retirement," said Hussain.
Siddique is survived by his wife, two sons and a daughter.
His funeral was held in his home town of Sialkot after his eldest son, Mohammad Aamir, arrived from the US where he is employed as an IT professional.
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