Political violence: Four activists laid to rest

Mourners block major thoroughfares, demand inquiry.

KARACHI:

Four activists of different religious and political organisations who were gunned down in separate incidents on Thursday were laid to rest amid moving scenes. Strict security arrangements were in place in order to avoid further violence.

The funeral prayers of two brothers, Khalid and Kamran, activists of Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ), formerly known as Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan, were offered after Friday prayers outside the Karachi Press Club. Hundreds of workers, supporters and leaders of the ASWJ were in attendance. Both victims were later buried in Akhtar Colony graveyard.

The brothers were gunned down near Gujjar Chowk in Baloch Colony when they were sitting in a furniture showroom. Sources indicated that Khalid was one of the founding members of Sipah-e-Sahaba and its sister organisation, Lashkar-e-Jhangvi.

Before the funeral prayers, the mourners staged a protest on Sharae Faisal, blocking the flow of traffic. Intense gunfire was reported during the protest, however there was no loss of life. The protesters chanted slogans against atrocities faced by activists of the AWSJ.

A large contingent of law enforcers reached the site and dispersed the protesters peacefully. The protesters then reached the Karachi Press Club where, after a brief interlude, the funeral prayers of the slain brothers were offered. ASWJ’s Maulana Taj Hanafi told The Express Tribune that their initial plans were to offer the prayers outside CM House. However, the authorities assured a thorough investigation into the case and an end to target killings of the organisation’s activists and workers. The venue was then switched.

The funeral prayers of two Awami National Party (ANP) activists, Naseebullah and Noman, were also offered, in the Old Sabzi Mandi area. Both men were part of the ANP UC-4 Ward, Gulshan-e-Iqbal Town and were gunned down on Thursday in the Sarjani area. The funeral prayers were attended by a number of ANP workers who later chanted slogans and demanded an immediate arrest of the culprits.

Massive traffic jams took place on all roads leading up to Hassan Square. However a heavy contingent of law-enforcement agencies was present. Noman was buried in a graveyard off the Super Highway while Naseebullah’s body was sent to his hometown of Pishin, Balochistan.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 30^th, 2011.