Trump has sacrificed nothing: father of Pak-origin US soldier

Philadelphia: The father of a Pakistani- origin Muslim American soldier, who was killed in the Iraq war, on Friday 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 S M Khan who was one of the 14 American Muslims who served 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, Minnesota  in which she paid honour to Captain Khan.

In his address 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.

"Donald Trump, you are asking Americans to trust you with our future. Let me ask you: Have you even read the US Constitution? I will gladly lend you my copy. In this document, look for the words "liberty" and "equal protection of law," Khan said amidst applause from the audience.

Khizr Khan, who lives in Charlottesville, Virginia, also appears in the video. Khan was born in Pakistan, but moved to the US in 1980 from the UAE.

"Have you ever been to Arlington Cemetery? Go look at the graves of the brave patriots who died defending America ? you will see all faiths, genders, and ethnicities. You have sacrificed nothing and no one. We can't solve our problems by building walls and sowing division," he said.

"We are Stronger Together. And we will keep getting stronger when Hillary Clinton becomes our next President," Khan said.

In Clinton's Minneapolis speech, she hailed Khan's exemplary service, noting that it exemplifies the US at its best a country that derives great strength by embracing and celebrating its diversity.

The speech, which also laid out her comprehensive plan to bolster homeland security, was delivered shortly after Donald Trump called to ban Muslims from entering the US.