KOHAT: Noted religious scholar, former MNA and chairman of World Prisoners Relief Commission, Haji Javed Ibrahim Paracha, died after protracted illness at age 76 here on Wednesday.

His funeral prayers were offered at the Fort Cricket ground in the evening amid tight security. Traffic police had taken control of the ground.

A mobile jammer vehicle had also been stationed at the ground, where a walk-through gate had been installed for people’s entry.

Many high-profile personalities, including former ministers and lawmakers, attended his funeral.

The deceased was suffering from kidney problems and had been undergoing dialysis twice a week for two years. He was also suffering from diabetes and was on wheelchair.

A large number of people from different walks of life thronged his home to express condolences.

He was chairman of World Prisoners Relief Commission, which had got many former USSR officials released from the custody of Afghan Mujahidden.

In 2008, he had also managed release of three former Russian army officers, who were arrested for staying without travel documents in Pakistan.

He had pursued hundreds of cases of ‘missing persons’, which also included foreigners.

He had done masters in Arabic and Islamiyat from Bahawalpur and Peshawar universities.

Published in Dawn, December 28th, 2023