Farooq buried amid tears and shock

Karachi wears deserted look | Thousands attend funeral rituals amidst tight security

From Abdul Jabbar Khan 


KARACHI – The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader Dr Imran Farooq, who was stabbed to death outside his house in London on September 17, 2010, was laid to rest in Shuhada Cemetery Yaseenabad amid shock and tears here on Saturday.
Heart-rending scenes were witnessed on this occasion, as the family, friends and party leaders laid him at his final resting place. After prayers for the deceased, MQM Leader Farooq Sattar announced that soyem for the deceased would be held on Sunday (today) at Lal Qila Ground Azizabad from Zuhr to Asr. Separate arrangements for men and women will be made for the purpose.
Quran Khawani or recitation of the Holy Quran (female session) will be held at Dr Imran Farooq’s residence in Shareefabad from Asr to Maghrib today. While, men will attend Quran Khawani at As-Safa Masjid near the residence of the deceased.
A very big congregation could be seen at Jinnah Ground where funeral prayer was held. The high arrangements were made and personally supervised by Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik who remained with the procession since the arrival of the coffin. Sindh governor Dr. Ishrat received the coffin and then the procession moved to Federal B Area where the residence was the first destination and after about one hour the body was taken to MQM head office for prayers. Thousands of sympathisers and supporters of the MQM present on this occasion expressed their condolences with the party leaders including Dr Farooq Sattar and Abbas Haidar Rizvi. Helicopters were flying in the sky in order to have a security check besides thousands of Rangers and police personnel throughout the day were on alert.
Karachi remained tense but calm. There was no business and commercial activity in any part of the city with the port activities even remained negligible. The traders and transporters had already announced mourning sympathising with the bereaved party and family.
On this occasion, thousands of mourners belonging to MQM reached the airport and continued the procession. A big caravan of vehicles led by the Sindh Governor, the Federal interior Minister, representing ruling PPP and others till the burial procession completed with prayers offered by Maulana Asad Thanvi. A very big congregation of sympathisers, workers and supporters of the party overwhelmed right from the Karachi airport to Nine Zero to Azizabad Yasinabad Graveyard.
The Sindh government managed the affairs throughout the day with thousands of Rangers and police personnel deployed all along the road route carrying the coffin Police have not yet come out with a suspect allegedly involved in the murder of slain leader of the party.
Main roads like Shahrae Faisal was sealed by authorities fearing any attack by terrorists, however no major incident was reported in the area where procession passed till the burial in Federal B Area. People were found with deep grief and sorrow and expressing their feelings and confidence that the killers will be apprehended by London Police. Father of late Dr Imran said though the party had expressed fully the condolence as it was the party matter however he was deeply impressed the way the thousands of people thronged on this occasion and prayed for the departed soil. Two children and his widow are the members of slain leader besides parents to mourn the death of Dr Imran Farooq. Having done his medical graduation from Karachi, Dr Imran joined the All Pakistan Muttahidda Students Organization (APMSO).
Altaf Hussain in London offered funeral prayer and also expressed his confidence in London police for arresting the killers. He said he could never forget the slain friend who laid his life for the party and stood fast with the leadership and the party. Dr Imran Farooq being the elected member of the National Assembly was considered to be articulate and a good debater emphasising fully on the national affairs during the debate and also cordially moving with his friends in the parliament.
Courtesy: Google News

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