Thousands bid farewell to three fallen British Pakistanis

BIRMINGHAM: Thousands of mourners from across Britain attended the funeral prayers of three British men of Pakistani origin killed during riots here in Winson Green area of Birmingham, the second largest city.
The funeral for brothers Shahzad Ali, Abdul Musavir and their friend Haroon Jahan took place in Summerfield Park, Winson Green, followed by a private burial at Handsworth Cemetery. A spokesman of the Westmidlands Police told The News that an estimated 20,000 people were present at the funeral but the organizers said the number was nearly 30,000.
Three of them died after being hit by a car on Dudley Road in the early hours of August 10 while they were protecting local Asian businesses from the looters who were on rampage in the local area.
The funeral was attended by people of all faith who travelled from different corners of the country to take part in funeral prayers as well as to show solidarity. The park was divided in different sections; with separate barricaded pockets for men, women, media and an area reserved in front of the stage only for the Muslims who offered namaz-e-janaza.
Hundreds of local people attended the funeral wearing T-shirts printed with the names of the three victims, beneath the heading “My Brothers” and the first Kalima.
Mourners wept and consoled each other and remembered the lives of the three fallen who they described as good Samaritans who died defending the best of the “Islamic, Pakistan and British values.”
“It is important that their sacrifice is respected forever. They should never be forgotten by anyone. They are our heroes. It was a sacrifice, and we have got to continue to respect that sacrifice,” mourners said.
Meanwhile, a fourth man appeared in court yesterday charged with murder of the three men. The unnamed local man, the Westmidlands Police said, appeared before Birmingham Magistrates Court. Three men Joshua Doanld, Adam Kings and a 17 years old have already been charged with murder and they have been bailed pending further questions.