A senior journalist and author, Syed Saleem Shahzad, 40, was laid to rest on Wednesday in Karachi's DHA graveyard amid tears and deep sobs.
He left behind an ailing mother, a wife, two sons, a daughter, a brother and a sister to mourn his death. His body was brought to Karachi at noon after undergoing a post-mortem at Islamabad. A large number of people attended Saleem's funeral prayers including politicians, journalists, his relatives and friends at DHA's Mubarak Masjid.
The Interior Minister, Rehman Malik claimed Saleem had been killed for his personal enmity. Journalists' fraternity believed Malik's remarks were deliberate to cover-up the tragedy.
Saleem Shahzad hailed from Karachi and was known for his investigative reports. He had shifted to Islamabad few years ago after joining the Asia Times Online as its bureau chief.
Shahzad began his journalistic career in 1997 and remained associated for 10 years with the Dawn Group in Karachi. He had several breaking stories to his credit.
Assadullah Bhutto and Muhammad Hussain Mehanti of Jamat-e-Islami, Saleem Zia and Sardar Abd-ur-Reheem of PML-N, Waqar Mehdi of PPP and senior journalists, besides relatives and friends paid homage to him for being a kind person and a professional journalist, who served the nation risking his life till he breathed last.
Journalists' fraternity demanded the immediate arrest of killers of Saleem Shahzad. His soyem will be held between Asr and Zohr on June 2, Thursday. Separate arrangements for men and women have been made at Mubarak Masjid, near his residence at Florida Homes.