A funeral amid anguish and high security

Funeral services of Nasir Ali are held in a tense atmosphere at the imambargah in Rizvia.

KARACHI: The funeral services of Nasir Ali - a member of the Shia sect, who was shot dead in firing in Liaquatabad on Monday night - were held in a tense atmosphere at the imambargah in Rizvia on Tuesday amid a heavy presence of law enforcers.

However, the Rangers remained at a distance from the proceedings and the police was handed over the security of the place.

Nasir was among the Shia protesters who were returning from the funeral of a sect member. The Jaffaria Alliance Pakistan says that when the protesters reached the Post Office Square in Liaquatabad, Rangers personnel opened fire on them, resulting in Nasir and another person’s death. A Rangers’ spokesman said the Rangers only retaliated when some people fired shots at them.

The funeral was performed after Zuhr prayers. Though there were around 250 participants, the area was crowded with police and Rangers. Activists of the Islamia Student Organisation were also deputed at different places. A large number of law enforcers were also deployed in the areas of Ancholi, Golimar and Nazimabad. “The people who are killing us (Shias) are freely roaming around, while the law enforcers are aiding them,” said Hasan Raza, one of the anguished participants.

Nasir’s body was buried at the Kachhi graveyard, as the participants continued to chant anti-Rangers slogans.

Meanwhile, the Majlis-e-Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM) leaders have announced that it will observe a day of mourning on Friday across the country.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 22^nd, 2010.