MIANWALI, Feb 21: Air Vice Marshal Abdul Razzaq was laid to rest at his ancestral graveyard in Wan Bhachran — located 20km down the road to Sargodha.

More than 10,000 people attended the Nimaz-i-Jinaza. The body was brought to the PAF base in Mianwali by a C-130 aircraft at around 12:30pm. Base commander Air Commodore Inamullah Khan received the body and arranged Nimaz-i-Jinaza on the runway, which was attended by PAF officers including the base commander, airmen as well as civilians including DCO Saleem Sher Afghan Kiani and district Naib Nazim Amjad Khan. The body was then sent to Wan Bhachran by road, where his final ceremonial rites were offered at 3:30pm.

Mr Razzaq was a fighter pilot who served the airforce for more than 30 years. He had also served as the commander of Masroor PAF base in Karachi. In recognition to his meritorious services, the state had awarded him Sitara-i-Imtiaz, Sitara-i-Basalat and Tamgha-i-Jurat.

He left behind a widow, two sons and two daughters.

Mr Razzaq was born to a schoolteacher, Mohammad Hayat, in Wan Bhachran. He was selected to the PAF Cadet College Sargodha after passing his Class VII examination.