JI chief leads funeral prayer in absentia for Mumtaz Qadri

PESHAWAR: The chief of Jamaat-e-Islami Senator Sirajul Haq on Monday led the funeral prayers in absentia for Mumtaz Qadri, who was hanged in Rawalpindi for murdering Punjab Governor Salman Taseer.

The JI chief also announced country-wide protests against the hanging of Qadri who was a guard of Salman Taseer.The party workers protested in many districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa while paying tributes to Mumtaz Qadri who had assassinated Salman Taseer in Islamabad on January 4, 2011.

While leading a protest rally in Peshawar, the JI leader announced holding protests on a daily basis till Friday from Karachi to Peshawar.He added that a future line of action would be planned after consulting other religious groups. Senator Sirajul Haq termed the day of the hanging of Mumtaz Qadri as a ‘black day’ for Pakistan.

The JI chief prayed to Allah to annihilate those who had committed this act. “Oh Allah devastate those involved in the hanging. They have done it to appease the [United States of] America. Oh Allah, destroy America as well,” Sirajul Haq prayed after offering the funeral prayers for Mumtaz Qadri.

Sirajul Haq was unusually clad in black clothes, which are a symbol of mourning.Provincial head of the JI Mushtaq Ahmad Khan and other party leaders and activists also attended the funeral prayers.

The JI chief said Pakistan came into being in the name of Allah and his Prophet Mohammad (Peace Be Upon Him). He prayed for the enforcement of the Islamic law in the country.Sirajul Haq also prayed to Allah for strength and power to be able to enforce Shariah in the world. “We are all Ashiqan-e-Rasool [SAW] and ready to sacrifice our lives for him,” he stressed.

Another rally was staged by the members and supporters of Tanzeemaat Ahle Sunnat. The protesters walked from Hashngari to the Surey Pull Chowk. They were carrying banners and raising slogans.

NOWSHERA: Students and teachers of the Darul Uloom Haqqania staged a rally and blocked the Grand Trunk Road to protest the hanging.A Khatm-e-Quran was arranged at the madrassa. Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Sami (JUI-S) chief and administrator of the Darul Uloom Haqqania Maulana Samiul Haq criticised the hanging.

DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Activists of the religio-political parties took out a protest rally against the execution of Mumtaz Qadri. They gathered at Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan Chowk. Led by Syed Nizakat Hussain Shah Gillani, the protesters were carrying banners.

BATTAGRAM: Protesters blocked the Karakuram Highway for an hour during the protest against the hanging. The protesters chanted slogans.

GHALLANAI: Tribesmen staged a protest rally at Mian Mandi Bazaar against the hanging of Mumtaz Qadri. They blocked the Peshawar-Bajaur Road to traffic.

MINGORA: Activists of Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat staged protest rally outside the Swat Press Club. Led by Pir Syed Qadri, Hafiz Sirajud Din and Muhammad Roshan, the protesters condemned the hanging.

CHARSADDA: Activists of various political parties staged protest against the hanging of Mumtaz Qadri. Maulana Gohar Shah, Maulana Hashim Khan, Maulana Ghulam Sadiq and others spoke on the occasion.