August 5, 2002	Monday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 25,1423

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MUZAFFARABAD, Aug 4: A Pakistan army officer, who died in Indian shelling along the Line of Control in Azad Kashmir, was buried in a local graveyard here on Saturday with military honours.

Earlier, hundreds of people from all walks of life, including Prime Minister Sardar Sikandar Hayat Khan and senior civil and military officials, offered funeral prayers for the deceased officer, Major Ejaz Qadir Gulab, at the University College ground here.

Officials and family sources said he was critically injured in exchange of fire in Kel sector in the upper belt of Neelum valley on Friday and was removed to a mobile military dressing centre, where he died due to excessive bleeding.

Ejaz, 38, a resident of the AJK capital, was younger brother of Asif Gulab, staff officer to the AJK minister for forests, agriculture and tourism Mufti Mansoor ur Rehman.

A military spokesman told Dawn that Maj Ejaz died during artillery duel, which started as Indian troops made attempts to re-build new positions along Line of Control in Neelum valley.

“Pakistan army successfully beat back Indian troops and caused considerable casualties to the enemy,” the spokesman said.

The body of deceased officer was flown to Muzaffarabad from Kel amid unrelenting shelling in that area on Saturday.