Central MMA leader and provincial head of Islami Tehrik Allama Hasan Turabi was laid to rest in the premises of Masjid-e-Mustafa, Abbas Town, here on Saturday afternoon in the presence of thousands of mourners. Islami Tehrik chief Allama Sajid Naqvi led his funeral prayers at Mehfil Shah Khurasan amid tight security.
A large number of law-enforcement agencies had surrounded the area to avert any untoward incidents. Violence continued unabated on the second day as 16 vehicles, including an ambulance, a restaurant, a petrol pump and a bank were set on fire coupled with severe aerial firing in Karachi.
The cosmopolitan city remained in the grip of tension on Saturday and violence was kicked off just after funeral prayers of Allama Hasan Turabi. According to details, the University road was the worst affected, where 12 vehicles including an ambulance of Al-Mustafa Trust and two motorbikes were set ablaze by miscreants.
The angry mob ahead of the funeral procession pelted stones on vehicles and shops, resultantly a number of shops, outlets and vehicles were damaged at the University road while aerial firing continued as long as the procession reached Abbas town.
Allama Hasan, who was killed in a suicide attack on Friday, was buried in the premises of Masjid-e-Mustafa, Abbas town.
Addressing the funeral congregation, Allama Sajid said Allama Hasan Turabi was a great scholar and rendered matchless services to the Muslim community, and added that his efforts for the solidarity of Muslims would be remembered forever.
He appealed to the masses to be calm and maintain peace, saying the mission of Allama Hasan would be continued.
Opposition leader in Sindh Assembly Nisar Ahmed Khoro, Taj Haider, Saleem Zia, Liaquat Baloch and other prominent political figures attended the final rites of the late Allama Hasan Turabi.
Law and order situation remained disturbed in the entire city despite presence of heavy contingents of police and other law-enforcement agencies patrolling roads and arteries.
According to reports, one mini-bus was set on fire near Holy Family hospital in the jurisdiction of Soldier Bazar police station. One Shahzore truck standing outside a vehicle showroom at New M.A. Jinnah road was also set ablaze in the jurisdiction of Jamshed Quarter police station. Miscreants also set a KESC vehicle on fire at Jail Road chowrangi while a bus was set ablaze in Gulbahar.
The mob also burnt a foreign franchised restaurant, one MCB branch was damaged at New M.A. Jinnah road and a Caltex petrol pump was set on fire new Gulshan town office. Another petrol pump and a traffic police post at Nipa chowrangi were also set alight.
However, there were no reports of any casualty. Meanwhile, Sindh home minister Rauf Siddiqui has directed police and Rangers to arrest any person carrying arms. Gulshan town TPO Captain Tahir, talking to Business Recorder, said police was patrolling the area and situation was under control. To a question, he said no arrests had been made so far and no FIR was lodged. Some arrests are likely during night, he observed.