ASWJ’s leaders hold talks with additional IG for better security
Funeral prayers for Maulana Akbar held on Monday, party workers hold protests.
Body of ASWJ's spokesperson Maulana Saeed Farooqui arrives in his home town of Mohmand on Monday after he was gunned down on Sunday. PHOTO: IQBAL HAIDER/EXPRESS
KARACHI:
The killing of Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat’s (ASWJ) 26-year-old spokesperson on Sunday has led the party, once again, to hold the provincial government accountable for the worsening law and order conditions in the city.
Maulana Akbar Saeed Farooqui was gunned down near Safari Park on University Road while on his way home with his companion Osama. The men were returning from the protest held at Lasbella Chowk against the sectarian killings in Bhakkar, Punjab. He was shot once in the head and was taken to the Liaquat National Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries during treatment. The deceased was also a prayer leader at the Ameer Mavia Masjid in Metroville III.
The funeral prayers of slain spokesperson of the Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ) were offered at the National Highway on Monday morning. Meanwhile, ASWJ ended its sit-in and warned government and law enforcement agencies to again hold the protest if their demands were not fulfilled.
The funeral prayers were attended by leaders and workers of ASWJ and other Sunni organisations. ASWJ’s members who usually remain underground also turned up to pay their respect.
“The frequent targeted killings of our leaders, workers and supporters are a clear indication of the failure of the provincial government and law enforcement agencies,” said Maulana Aurangzeb while addressing people at the funeral.
“A case should be registered against the government and police because even though Maulana Akbar’s name was put on the terrorists’ hit-list, he was not provided security.”
Participants, along with the deceased’s body, staged a sit-in at the Star Gate, Airport on Shara-e-Faisal. The protest came to an end after two hours when the police officials reached the site and assured the people of their full cooperation.
“We are postponing the sit-in as the police officials have assured us of holding a meeting with the Karachi additional IG Ghulam Qadir Thebo,” Maulana Aurangzeb told The Express Tribune. “If our demands are not met, we will hold protests again at the city’s main thoroughfares and even outside the Governor House and Chief Minister House.”
Maulana Farooqui demanded that his party’s leaders, including him, Dr Fayyaz and Maulana Taj Hanfi, should be provided proper security and that the target killers should be arrested immediately. A four-member delegation of ASWJ, headed by Maulana Aurangzeb, met the Karachi Additional IG Ghulam Qadir Thebo at the Central Police Office on Monday evening. Thebo said that a seven-member special investigation team under the supervision of DIGP East Captain (retd) Tahir Naveed will investigate the murder of Maulana Akbar.
Maulana Saeed’s body has been sent to his hometown Mohmand Agency for burial.
Investigations
Meanwhile, the police told The Express Tribune that no one had come forward to register a case as yet. “They [ASWJ] are still busy in holding protests and meetings,” said Gulshan-e-Iqbal SHO Mohammad Irfan. “The case will be registered on their directives. It depends if they want to nominate anyone or not.”
Osama, who was with Maulana Akbar at the time of the attack and survived, narrated that there were two men who opened fire. “They later moved towards the main University Road.”
Published in The Express Tribune, August 27th, 2013.
The killing of Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat’s (ASWJ) 26-year-old spokesperson on Sunday has led the party, once again, to hold the provincial government accountable for the worsening law and order conditions in the city.
Maulana Akbar Saeed Farooqui was gunned down near Safari Park on University Road while on his way home with his companion Osama. The men were returning from the protest held at Lasbella Chowk against the sectarian killings in Bhakkar, Punjab. He was shot once in the head and was taken to the Liaquat National Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries during treatment. The deceased was also a prayer leader at the Ameer Mavia Masjid in Metroville III.
The funeral prayers of slain spokesperson of the Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ) were offered at the National Highway on Monday morning. Meanwhile, ASWJ ended its sit-in and warned government and law enforcement agencies to again hold the protest if their demands were not fulfilled.
The funeral prayers were attended by leaders and workers of ASWJ and other Sunni organisations. ASWJ’s members who usually remain underground also turned up to pay their respect.
“The frequent targeted killings of our leaders, workers and supporters are a clear indication of the failure of the provincial government and law enforcement agencies,” said Maulana Aurangzeb while addressing people at the funeral.
“A case should be registered against the government and police because even though Maulana Akbar’s name was put on the terrorists’ hit-list, he was not provided security.”
Participants, along with the deceased’s body, staged a sit-in at the Star Gate, Airport on Shara-e-Faisal. The protest came to an end after two hours when the police officials reached the site and assured the people of their full cooperation.
“We are postponing the sit-in as the police officials have assured us of holding a meeting with the Karachi additional IG Ghulam Qadir Thebo,” Maulana Aurangzeb told The Express Tribune. “If our demands are not met, we will hold protests again at the city’s main thoroughfares and even outside the Governor House and Chief Minister House.”
Maulana Farooqui demanded that his party’s leaders, including him, Dr Fayyaz and Maulana Taj Hanfi, should be provided proper security and that the target killers should be arrested immediately. A four-member delegation of ASWJ, headed by Maulana Aurangzeb, met the Karachi Additional IG Ghulam Qadir Thebo at the Central Police Office on Monday evening. Thebo said that a seven-member special investigation team under the supervision of DIGP East Captain (retd) Tahir Naveed will investigate the murder of Maulana Akbar.
Maulana Saeed’s body has been sent to his hometown Mohmand Agency for burial.
Investigations
Meanwhile, the police told The Express Tribune that no one had come forward to register a case as yet. “They [ASWJ] are still busy in holding protests and meetings,” said Gulshan-e-Iqbal SHO Mohammad Irfan. “The case will be registered on their directives. It depends if they want to nominate anyone or not.”
Osama, who was with Maulana Akbar at the time of the attack and survived, narrated that there were two men who opened fire. “They later moved towards the main University Road.”
Published in The Express Tribune, August 27th, 2013.