SARGODHA, May 16: Riaz Basra, the chief of Lashkar-i-Jhangvi, killed in a police encounter along with his accomplices, was laid to rest on Thursday morning under tight security in his native village Khurhseed near Jhawarian town, some 45 kilometres from here.

His funeral prayers were offered twice. The first prayer was led by Jamia Masjid khateeb Mufti Abdul Rehman at 7:15am while the second was led by his nephew, Abu Bakar, at 8am. His body was wrapped in the flag of Lashkar-i-Jhangvi.

The police reportedly besieged the village on Wednesday and did not allow any eminent leader of the Lashkar-i-Jhangvi or the Sipah-i-Sahaba Pakistan activists join the funeral prayers. However, his funeral was attended by around 5,000 people.

Some people raised slogans after funeral prayers.

Naseer Basra, a cousin of Riaz, alleged that he (Riaz) was arrested by the police about four months ago and the family apprehended that he might be killed in a fake encounter.

He said the mission of Riaz would continue.

Earlier, Riaz’s parents Ghulam Muhammad and Jalan, and brothers Nawaz and Mumtaz, identified his body.

His parents told newsmen that he was brought up by his late brother-in-law Hafiz Muhammad Feroze.