KARACHI: Shah Turab-ul-Haq Qadri, Karachi chief of the Jamaat Ahle Sunnat, who passed away on Thursday, was laid to rest on Friday.

He was buried beside the grave of Allama Qari Mohammed Muslehuddin Siddiqui in his shrine in the Khori Garden area of Kharadar after a huge procession and funeral prayers outside the Memon Masjid on M. A. Jinnah Road near Boulton Market after Friday prayers.

All business activities in the busiest commercial area of the city remained suspended in mourning as traders’ associations voluntarily announced that the businesses would remain closed.

Senior politicians from different parties, religious scholars and a large number of people attended the funeral that kept the traffic movement on M. A. Jinnah Road suspended and road users were asked to take alternative routes by traffic authorities.

The funeral prayer of Shah Turab-ul-Haq was led by Syed Shah Abdul Haq Qadri which was followed by Dua from chief of Jamaat Ahle Sunnat Allama Mazhar Saeed Kazmi and Mufti Muneeb-ur-Rahman.

Pakistan Peoples Party chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari condoled the death of Shah Turab-ul-Haq and paid tribute to him for his contribution to the society for peace and harmony.

“The demise of renowned religious scholar Allama Shah Turab-ul-Haq Qadri has created a big vacuum, which could hardly be filled in near future,” he was quoted as saying in a statement issued by Bilawal House.

“The PPP chairman has expressed condolence to the members of the bereaved family and the followers of Allama Qadri and prayed the Almighty to grant eternal peace to the departed soul and courage and fortitude to the bereaved to bear this irreparable loss.”

Published in Dawn, October 8th, 2016