LAHORE: Allama Inayatullah Mashriqi, the 75-year-old leader of the Khaksar Movement, died here today (Aug 27) at 9-05 p.m. in the Mayo Hospital, after a prolonged illness due to cancer of the rectum.

The dead body of the aged Khaksar leader will be laid to rest in the Idara-i-Aliya-Hindia, the headquarters of the Khaksar Movement, at Ichhra. Namaz-i-Janaza will be offered at the Badshahi Mosque at 10 a.m. The Khaksar leader is survived by his wife and seven children.

Allama Mashriqi was laid on an open stretcher outside the Albert Victor Ward. Thousands of grief-stricken Khaksar workers, many crying openly, surrounded the stretcher. Accompanied by a special guard, the body was slowly wheeled to the morgue.

Allama Mashriqi had been ill for the past six months and had been confined to the sick-bed at his residence in Ichhra. On July 13, his health took a turn for the worse and he was advised to seek hospital treatment.

The Khaksar leader was admitted to the Mayo Hospital on Aug 8 for treatment. But his condition did not improve.

During the past one week, Allama Mashriqi was often in a state of unconsciousness and abstained from taking meals. — Agencies

Bhashani fails?

MURREE: The mission to Rawalpindi and Lahore of the NAP leader, Maulana Bhashani, today (Aug 27) appeared to have failed.

It was indicated that after two-and-half-hour high-level political talks here, the Government was not willing to let off at least the Red Shirt leader Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan without any condition.

It is believed that the Government wants him to give an undertaking to the effect that he (Badshah Khan) will not indulge in what the Government considers “anti-Pakistan” activities.

Maulana Bhashani had come to Rawalpindi and had a three-and-a-half-hour discussion concerning mostly the release of Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan and other political prisoners with President Ayub Khan. — Agencies