Citizens join funeral prayers, honoring martyred police and expressing solidarity with their families
After the funeral, the bodies of the martyrs were shipped to their hometowns, where they were buried with full official honors. PHOTO: SYED ALI SHAH
QUETTA:
Thousands of mourners gathered at Quetta’s Ayub Stadium on Saturday to attend the collective funeral prayers of police officers martyred in the recent Ziarat terror attack, as political leaders, government officials and members of the public paid tribute to their sacrifice in the line of duty.
The funeral prayers, held at the Ayub Stadium football field, were attended by Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly Mahmood Khan Achakzai, MP Khushal Khan Kakar, Senator Manzoor Khan Kakar, Balochistan Home Minister Mir Ziaullah Langove, provincial ministers Mir Asim Kurd Gello and Bakht Muhammad Kakar, National Party general secretary Mir Kabir Ahmed Muhammad Shahi, leader of the BNP Sajid Tareen and ANP Balochistan Chairman Asghar Khan. Achakzai, PTI Balochistan Chairman Daud Shah Kakar, Hazara Democratic Party leader Qadir Ali Nael, BNP leader Mir Akhtar Hussain Langove, Quetta Commissioner Shahezeb Kakar Malik Majid Kakar and leaders and workers of various political parties.
Learn more: Groundbreaking deal ends Ziarat sit-in
A large number of citizens also participated in the funeral prayers, expressing solidarity with the bereaved families and offering their prayers for the martyrs. Participants saluted the courage and sacrifice of the fallen police officers in the exercise of their duties to protect the public.
After the funeral, the bodies of the martyrs were shipped to their hometowns, where they were buried with full official honors.
Earlier, the bodies were shifted from Coal Phatak protest site in Quetta to Ayub Stadium after a sit-in by the families of the slain policemen ended following successful negotiations with the Balochistan government and representatives of political parties.
The agreement ended a multi-day protest organized in response to the terrorist attack in the Mangi area of Ziarat.
The Ziarat attack, in which several police officers accepted martyrdom, sparked widespread condemnation across Pakistan. Political leaders renewed calls to bring those responsible to justice and intensify efforts to eradicate terrorism in Balochistan, while reaffirming their support for the families of the martyrs.
