Muawia buried after govt promises to catch killers

Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ) leader Maulana Shamsur Rehman Muawia was buried on Saturday after negotiations between government officials and party members were successfully completed, putting an end to ASWJ’s nationwide protests over the killing.

The Namaz-e-Janaza was supposed to be held on Saturday at 2pm but was delayed by protesters who demanded assurance from the government that the culprits would be arrested.

They maintained that until they heard from the authorities, the ASWJ workers would continue to block roads and may even go to the Punjab Assembly to register their protest.

By early Saturday evening, the party ended the protests after a three-member delegation from ASWJ met with the Lahore Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) at his office and received an assurance from him regarding arrest of Muawia’s killers.

Earlier during the protests, an angry mob shouted slogans outside the Governor’s House and on Mall Road.

ASWJ members also protested in Rawalpindi and Sheikhupura. They blocked the Faisalabad Interchange from all four sides. The motorway to Islamabad from Rawalpindi was also blocked, causing inconvenience to the general public.

Murree Road and Kashmir Highway were also blocked by stick-wielding ASWJ supporters.

Muawia was shot dead in Lahore on December 6 by unidentified gunmen. The ASWJ leader was returning home after leading Friday prayers at the Muhammadi Mosque in the Ravi Road locality.

On December 6, ASWJ had announced that its members will stage a sit-in on the Islamabad Highway at Faizabad on Saturday to protest the killing of its provincial leader in Lahore.

The ASWJ members had rallied at Aabpara Chowk around 5pm on Friday to condemn the killing. The Kashmir Highway and roads leading to Aabpara Chowk had remained closed for over two hours, until the demonstrators started dispersing for Isha prayers around 7pm.