Former senator Allama Abbas Kumaili passes away in Karachi

70-year-old Jafria Alliance chief used MWM platform to preach interfaith harmony

KARACHI: Jafria Alliance Pakistan (JAP) chief and former Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) senator Allama Abbas Kumaili passed away after prolonged illness in Karachi on Saturday.

The 70-year-old prominent religious scholar, a diabetic patient, was being treated at a private hospital for cardiac complications.

Kumaili also used Majlis-e-Wahdatul Muslimeen's (MWM) platform to preach interfaith harmony among all Islamic schools of thought.

His 42-year-old son, Allama Ali Akbar Kumaili, was shot dead in Bhangoria Goth, along with his guard in September, 2014.

Targeted: Allama Abbas Kumaili’s son shot dead in Azizabad

Condolences poured in soon after the news of his demise.

Prime Minister Imran Khan expressed deep grief and sorrow over the sad demise, saying Allama Kumaili was a strong voice of interfaith harmony and unity among the Muslims.

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah also offered condolence to the deceased's family, saying the departed was a renowned religious scholar and a good human being. “His efforts for sectarian harmony will always be remembered,” he said in a statement.

Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) Information Secretary Sardar Abdul Rahim also expressed sorrow over the incident and prayed for the departed soul.

MWM’s Raja Nasir Abbas also condoled with the bereaving family and lauded Kumaili’s efforts for raising voice for the oppressed in Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK) and Palestine.

Funeral prayers of the deceased were offered after Maghrib prayers at Mehfil-e-Shah-e-Khurasan mosque in Soldier Bazar.