ISLAMABAD: Funeral prayers of slain Sunni Ulema Council leader Maulana Masoodur Rehman Usmani was held on Saturday and was later laid to rest in Ghauri Town graveyard.

Speakers at the funeral included Maulana Abdul Aziz of Lal Masjid. He said: “The system will never protect you, its in the holy scripture that we have to defend ourselves.”

Addressing the event, proscribed Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat president Allama Aurangzeb Farooqui said the ideology of protecting the honour of the companions of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) would continue.

Allama Farooqui demanded the government to investigate the killing and bring the murderers to justice.

Earlier, it had been announced that the funeral prayers of Maulana Usmani would be held in front of Parliament House but later the venue was shifted to Aabpara.

Published in Dawn, January 7th, 2024