Citizens join the funeral prayers, honoring the martyred police officers and expressing solidarity with their families
After the funeral, the bodies of the martyrs were sent to their hometowns, where they were buried with all official honors. PHOTO: SYED ALI SHAH
QUETA:
Thousands of mourners gathered at the Ayub Stadium in Quetta on Saturday to attend the collective funeral prayers of police personnel 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, MNA 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, BNP leader Sajid Tareen and Balochistan ANP president. 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.
Read more: Groundbreaking deal ends Ziarat sit-in
A large number of citizens also participated in the funeral prayers, expressing solidarity with the grieving families and offering prayers for the martyrs. Participants praised the fallen police personnel for their bravery and sacrifice in carrying out their duties of protecting the public.
After the funeral, the bodies of the martyrs were sent to their hometowns, where they were buried with all official honors.
Earlier, the bodies had been shifted from the protest site at Coal Phatak in Quetta to the 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 days of protests that had been organized in response to the terrorist attack in the Mangi area of Ziarat.
The Ziarat attack, in which several police officers embraced 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 support for the families of the martyrs.
