Community Unites to Support Injured MBA Student Dania Zaheer After Hit-and-Run Tragedy in Houston

Houston, Texas — A Houston community rallied together in an incredible display of support for Dania Zaheer, a Pakistani MBA student left critically injured after a hit-and-run near the Galleria last Thursday.

Zaheer, who had come to Houston to do her Master’s in Business Administration, was knocked down by a vehicle at Westheimer and Sage at around 8 p.m.

Hit-and-Run Leaves MBA Student Critically Injured Near Galleria

The driver escaped from the scene, and Zaheer was critically injured with fractures in her pelvis, femur, arm, hip, skull, and eye socket. 

Houston Police are continuing their investigation but have yet to identify the driver responsible for the accident. A witness was unable to provide crucial details, and detectives are now searching for video evidence.

Severity of Accident 

She also had pleural effusion, and this made it a herculean task to recover from the ailment.

“I cannot recall much of what transpired that night,” Zaheer responded. “But I have been left with severe injuries, and I can barely breathe because of fluid in the lungs.”

Unfortunately, as much as the Houston Police Department is still on the case, they have not made any headway. 

While there was one witness to the occurrence of the accident, they did not give a description of the car or the driver. 

The police are on the lookout for surveillance cameras in the region to assist in the identification of the suspect.

At first, Zaheer thought she would stand alone when facing the road to recovery because her family lives in Pakistan.

Local Community Steps to Offer Help

However, as soon as her story was aired on ABC13, the local community, especially the Pakistani and business fraternity, came forward to assist her.

Salman Razzaqi, the president of the Pakistani Association of Greater Houston, was among the first individuals to offer his assistance. 

‘It made me think of my own daughter seeing someone her age in such a state,’ said Razzaqi. “Now our priority is to make her recover, to get back to her classes, and to assist her in achieving her goals in this country.”

Houston-based businessman and the CEO of Sheikhani Group Inc., Ali Sheikhani, also came forward to help. Zaheer’s medical and educational expenses will be fully covered by Sheikhani through a foundation established in memory of his mother; he tells her that she should not worry about the money.

‘I said to her, ‘Worry about your health, do not worry about money, we will take care of everything starting from school fees to helping her parents,’ Sheikhani said.

There are also current attempts to help Zaheer’s parents come to the U. S. so they can help her recover and be there for her. Currently, Sheikhani and his team are engaging the services of legal advisors to facilitate the visa.

She has asked for privacy in this period, and authorities are appealing that if there is any future fundraising campaigns, they should be done through the proper channels if necessary.

As Houston goes on this quest for answers, the city is proving that when one of their own is in a fight, they are never left to fend for themselves.