July 6, 2003	Sunday	Jumadi-ul-Awwal 5,1424

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QUETTA, July 5: Amid tight security, 32 victims of Friday’s bombing and firing at the Hazara Imambargah were laid to rest in the Marriabad graveyard here on Saturday in the presence of thousands of mourners.

The authorities relaxed curfew restrictions for the people in the Hazara locality in order for mourners to attend the funeral prayers. The situation in the area was tense, but no untoward incident was reported.

The bodies of other people who died in the tragic incident were sent to their areas for burial.

The Combined Military Hospital handed over 35 bodies to their relatives late on Friday night which were taken to different imambargahs in the city.

The final death-toll in the attack — one of the most vicious of its kind — was put at 53 by the Edhi Foundation, and 44 by the home department.

Thousands of people belonging to the Hazara tribe and other communities were present during the burial of the victims. Emotional scenes were witnessed during the funeral.

The authorities had deployed a heavy contingent of troops around the graveyard, cordoning off the whole area since Friday night.

The administration had requested the elders of the tribe to cooperate by refraining from taking out processions or delivering speeches during the funeral, and the requests were observed.

The authorities allowed the people to come out of their houses during the curfew break from 1pm to 6pm. All the main bazaars were opened and flooded with people as Quetta struggled to make sense of Friday’s tragedy. A sombre mood prevailed among the shoppers in the bazaars.

Army troops and personnel of other law enforcement agencies kept a watchful eye at the main roundabouts.

People on daily wages have been badly hit, and do not know when the situation will return to normal.