PESHAWAR, Dec 30: Prominent literary figure and writer Prof Dr Afzal Raza Raza, who died here on Sunday after a protracted illness, was laid to rest at his ancestral graveyard at Akora Khattak. He was suffering from heart disease. He was 61.

People from all walks of life attended his funeral prayers. They included politicians, religious scholars and senior government officials.

Dr Raza, who has written 104 books, had received presidential awards for five times on his research work Seerat-i-Tayyaba He also received Tamgha-i-Imtiaz on his book What is Islam. He wrote books on history, Islam, politics and social issues.

Dr Raza was an educationist and served as the principal of Post-Graduate College, Mardan. He had received his Masters degree in English literature, Persian, Urdu, Islamiat and Pushto.

He was also the author of a number of Pushto plays for Pakistan Television, Peshawar centre. Latoon (literally meaning search) was his last play.

CONDOLENCE: Pakistan Afghan Defence Council Chairman Maulana Samiul Haq and National Awami Party Pakistan (NAPP) President Ajmal Khattak expressed grief over the sad demise of Dr Raza Raza.

In their separate statements, the two leaders paid tributes to the deceased and expressed sympathy with the bereaved family.

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