Prayers for MQM leader amid tight security

Thousands of people attended Quran Khwanis across the province.

KARACHI: Businesses remained closed while there was barely any traffic on the streets on Sunday as Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader Dr Imran Farooq’s soyem was observed amid tight security.

Rangers and police personnel were deployed across the city to maintain law and order as people from all parts of the city gathered at Lal Qila Ground, Azizabad and Farooq’s residence in Sharifabad for the Quran Khwani.

Walk-through gates were set up at the Lal Qila Ground, which was surrounded by law enforcers. Police and Rangers were also deployed at Farooq’s residence, where a number of prominent MQM leaders and workers, including Mustafa Kamal, Farooq Sattar, Saif Yar Khan, Dr Sagheer Ahmed, MNAs and MPAs gathered to condole the family. They later visited Farooq’s grave in the Shuhada Qabristan, Yasinabad, to offer Fateha.

Meanwhile, a large number of residents from Hyderabad gathered at the Pucca Qila Ground where a large number of MQM zonal committee members, zonal incharge Muhammad Sharif, along with MPAs and MNAs also attended the Quran Khwani. Businesses and petrol pumps remained closed while law enforcers were deployed across the city.

In Sukkur, MQM organised Quran Khwani at its zonal office at Jinnah Chowk, where members of political, religious and social organisations as well as residents of Sukkur attended Farooq’s soyem. The MQM ladies’ wing also organised a Fateha Khwani.

Thousands of people also attended the Quran Khwanis for the late MQM leader which were organised at the MQM zonal office in Thatta, the Jinnah Hall in Mirpurkhas and the Qila Chowk in Tando Allahyar.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 8^th, 2010.