Injured Pakistani Scholar Agha Ziauddin expires
Pakistan Times Staff Report

ISLAMABAD: Prominent Shiite leader Agha Ziauddin who was wounded in an ambush that sparked bloody sectarian riots died Thursday in hospital.

The death of Agha Ziauddin, who was shot in the northern Himalayan gateway town of Gilgit on Saturday, has raised fears of renewed violence. Police were put on high alert in major cities across the country.

Ziauddin had been transferred to hospital in Rawalpindi, after the attack, which sparked off riots that left 15 people dead and 35 wounded. “He died this morning in hospital and we are taking his body back to Gilgit”, his spokesman Sikandar Gilani told media.

His dead body will be sent to Gilgit via helicopter along with his spokesman Askandar Gillani and injured bodyguard, he said.

Spontaneous Reaction

The news of Agha Ziauddin death led to spontaneous reaction with his followers coming out on the streets in various cities to mourn his death and demand the arrest of his killers.

The authorities clamped curfew in Skardu to avert the possibility of any violence. According to report, Gilgit was extremely tense and security agencies were conducting intensive patrolling to maintain law and order.

There were protests in other cities as well with the enraged people blocking roads by burning tyres. They also raised anti-government slogans.

Officials in Skardu said protesters burnt down a seminary and wrecked a Pakistan International Airlines office. Some shops were also damaged.

A security official, who did not want to be named, said some of the mourners attacked homes and shops in the area. It was not clear if anyone was injured.

Attack in Morgah

There was an attack on a house at Morgah near an Imambargah, causing concern in the area. A heavy contingent of police rushed to the scene and cordoned off the area but got no clue of the attackers.

A police officer when asked said three persons knocked at the door of Ahmad Ali Shah, an employee of 502 Workshop at about 7.00 in the morning. As he opened the door, the attackers opened fire at him causing him injuries.

The house belonged to the sister of former MNA Manzoor Hussain Shah, who was assassinated in Gujrat recently, police said.

District Police Officer [SSP] Syed Moravet Ali Shah when contacted said, "It was an attempted robbery".

The authorities of the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad have beefed up security in sensitive areas such as masques and Imambargahs. "Stringent security measures have been adopted in the metropolis to thwart any attempt to ignite violence", SSP, Islamabad, Sultan Azam Temuri said.

Police and paramilitary forces have been put on alert, official sources said. A group of people belonging to Imamia Students Federation (ISF) took out a protest rally against the killing of Agha Ziauddin at Liaquat Road and marched up to Sadar.

The protesters demanded the arrest of the killers. In Islamabad, the activists of ISF blocked the Melody Market Road by burning tyres. Police rushed to the scene and dispersed the protesters.

Perspective

Gilgit has been under curfew for the past five days and troops have been patrolling the gateway town. The curfew was relaxed for two hours for the first time on Tuesday and authorities have said life was returning to normal.

An interior ministry official said they had ordered the police countrywide to be on high alert for a possible backlash.

Call by Allama Sajid Naqvi

Meanwhile, the leader of Fiqah-e-Jafaria Allama Sajid Naqvi announced peaceful protest demonstrations countrywide for today, Friday on the demise of Agha Ziauddin.

Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs, Makhdoom Faisal Saleh Hayat said all possible efforts were being made to maintain law and order in Gilgit.

Talking to a private television channel he said as Muslims such incidents grieve and sadden them. Replying to a question he said peaceful mourning of the demise of the renowned religious scholar Agha Ziauddin will be better for all and for the area. He said the demise of the religious scholar is certainly a great loss.

The Minister said steps have been taken in the area to avoid any untoward incident and to control the situation. He said, “We have interacted with the community leaders and leaders of various schools of thought and they assured that they will discourage the elements who wanted to take law in their hands.”

Press Note

Meanwhile, a press note issued by District Magistrate Gilgit, Sajid Baloch said Thursday that Agha Zia-ud-Din expired at CMH Rawalpindi. His bodyguard also expired. The bodies of the deceased are being airlifted to Gilgit by a Pak Army helicopter.

The Markazi Imamia Council and Agha Razi-ud-din, brother of Agha Zia-ud-Din in a statement have condemned this brutal act of terrorism. They said they had full confidence in the Government, Pak Army and progress of the investigation.

They have called upon the people to maintain peace and pray for the soul of the deceased.

All religious and political leaders have expressed deep sorrow, and demanded exemplary punishment to the culprits.

The situation is peaceful and Army troops, and Police are patrolling the city for public safety. The Peace Committee members are also actively working with the Administration.

Copter with Agha Zia’s body Returns

Another report says that a helicopter carrying the dead body of Agha Ziauddin has returned to Rawalpindi due to bad weather conditions.

The dead body of Agha Zia was sent to Gilgit via an Army helicopter which was returned to Islamabad due to bad weather.

Recap

Authorities in Pakistan imposed a dawn-to-dusk curfew in the northern town of Skardu on Thursday amid fears of renewed violence after the death of an eminent religious leader who was wounded in a weekend attack.

The picturesque mountain town is the second in Pakistan’s Northern Areas to be placed under curfew since 15 people were killed in riots that erupted after Agha Ziauddin Rizvi was shot in an attack on Saturday last.

The scene of the attack, the Northern Areas capital Gilgit about 170 km (106 miles) to the northwest Skardu, was put under a 24-hour curfew on Saturday.

Faisal Saleh Hayat, minister for Kashmir Affairs and Northern Areas, said the Skardu curfew would also be around-the-clock. “The curfew has been imposed to pre-empt any violence,” he said.

The situation in Skardu, a popular tourist destination that serves as the base camp for the world’s second-highest mountain K-2, has been tense since the attack on the venerated scholar.

He was critically wounded when unidentified gunmen opened fire on his car in the centre of Gilgit, which is 240 km (150 miles) north of the capital Islamabad.

No one has claimed responsibility, but police said they suspected the attack was a sectarian incident.

Rashid, Faisal express grief

Minister for Information and Broadcasting Sheikh Rashid Ahmad and Minister for Northern Areas Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat have expressed their deep grief and sorrow over the demise of eminent scholar Agha Syed Ziauddin Rizvi.

Miscreants disrupt law and order in Karachi

After the news of death of noted religious scholar Agha Ziaduddin an enraged mob of people took out on the streets of Gurumandir and Numaish and started burning tyres and also pelted stones due to which the traffic was suspended.

A huge police battalion has been called to maintain law and order after the incident. Earlier an angry mob of protestors also pelted stones and burnt tyres in Ancholi, Jaffer Tayar society, Mohammadi Dera and Abbas town areas and also suspended the traffic.

Security stepped up in Islamabad

Security has been beefed up in and around the capital to avert any untoward situation in the wake of death of religious leader Agha Zia-ud-Din.

Police spokesman said that DSPs and SHOs of all capital police station have been directed to patrol in their respective jurisdictions during the prayers' time and ensure the security of citizens. "Security personnel in plain clothes are deputed outside the main mosques and Imambargahs in different sectors," he said.

The policemen are also on high alert at the main entry and exit points of the capital and are conducting checking of suspicious vehicles.

Police have been also directed to conduct checking of hotels, inns and guest houses while the hotel owners have been asked to keep complete information about guests and to inform the police in case of any suspicion.

Police spokesman said that extra security has been deputed at the main capital markets and shopping centres. Police officials are arranging meetings with local religious leaders seeking their assistance to keep law and order situation in control, he added.●