Historic gathering at Qadri’s funeral in Rawalpindi

Buried in outskirts of Islamabad

RAWALPINDI: Rawalpindi witnessed a historic gathering of people at the Namaz-e-Janaza of Mumtaz Qadri, who was hanged in the case of killing former Punjab governor Salmaan Taseer. The  people who came from all over Pakistan on Tuesday threw flowers at the casket of Mumtaz Qadri.

Security was tight at the funeral as the police blocked off roads to Liaquat Bagh. A large number of people arrived in Rawalpindi on foot.The demonstrations first broke out on Monday as the news spread that he had been executed.The stick-wielding Sunni Tehreek activists were maintaining security at Tuesday’s funeral.

Most participants at the funeral were religious and political workers. JI chief Sirajul Haq, Sunni Tehrik leader Sarwat Qadri, Chairman Ruet-e-Halal Mufti Muneebur Rahman and other religious leaders addressed the participants and payed glowing tributes to Mumtaz Qadri. Later, Mumtaz Qadri was buried in Bhara Kahu.

Our Lahore correspondent adds: Protests and funeral prayers in absentia for Mumtaz Qadri continued in various cities on Tuesday.

The JUI-F Lahore staged a demonstration outside the Lahore Press Club. Led by Maulana Amjad Khan, Maulana Muhibun Nabi, Qari Alimuddin, Hafiz Ashraf Gujjar and others, the workers raised slogans against the PML-N government.Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Liaquat Baloch led funeral prayers in absentia for Qadri in Mansoorah, attended by thousands of workers and residents of the surrounding areas. JI Naib Ameer Hafiz Muhammad Idrees, Maulana Abdul Malik and others were present.

MULTAN: A partial strike was observed in the city. Major markets including Wholesale Cloth Market of Andhi Khoi, Chowk Bazaar, Hussain Agahi Bazaar, Grain Market and Iron Market remained closed to mourn the hanging of Qadri. Funeral prayers in absentia were offered at Hussain Agahi under the auspices of the Jamaat-e-Islami, which were attended by the activists of religious parties including Jamaat-e-Islami, Tehrik-e-Tahaffuz-e-Namoos-e-Risalat and Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan. Asif Mehmood Ikhwani led the funeral prayers. Later, they organised a demonstration against the execution and announced a countrywide movement against the government.

BAHAWALPUR: Jamaat-e-Islami activists led by JI MPA and former Punjab JI Ameer Dr Waseem Akhtar staged a demonstration against the execution of Qadri outside the Fareed Gate after offering his Ghaibana Namaz-e-Janaza. The JI activists holing banners and placards raised slogans against the rulers as well as the media.

NANKANA SAHIB: On the appeal of the Anjuman-e-Tajran, shopkeepers observed a complete strike against the hanging of Qadri here. The Chemists and Druggists Association Nankana took out a protesting rally, which started from Ali Hospital and concluded at the Press Club. It was led by Muhammad Hanif.

TOBA TEK SINGH: A complete strike was observed here to condemn Qadri’s hanging. A rally was brought out from the Kamal Chowk and participants reached the Sadar Bazaar Chowk where Ulema including Maulana Munem Husnain Siddiqui, Maulana Mujeebur Rehman Ludhianvi, Maulana Saadullah, Allama Burq Toheedi and Anjuman-e-Tajran office-bearers criticised the government.

OKARA: The District Bar Association observed a strike in the district complex to protest the hanging. No lawyer attended any court.