CAIRO: President Gamal Abdel Nasser, hero of the Arab world, father of Arabism and United Arab Republic and symbol of resurgent Afro-Asia, was laid to rest here today [Oct 1] at the Gamal Abdel Nasser Mosque in one of the greatest funeral ceremonies of all times — a funeral cortege at least 10 miles long.

Nine Heads of State and five Premiers from the Arab and other parts of the world were among the more than five million mourners who attended the funeral ceremonies which lasted nearly five hours.

The grief and emotion of millions of mourners turned President Nasser’s funeral into an almost hysterical demonstration of popular homage. If any proof were needed of Nasser’s hold over his people, this was it.

Original plans for the procession completely collapsed and all attempts at maintaining order were swamped by a fighting, struggling sea of humanity which almost overwhelmed the gun carriage on which the departed leader’s body was being drawn through the streets.

[Meanwhile, as reported by an agency in Rawalpindi,] All Government offices and educational institutions in Pakistan remained closed today [Oct 1] as part of the three-day national mourning for the late President Nasser of UAR. The National Flag has been at half-mast for the past three days.

Published in Dawn, October 2nd, 2020