Pakistani top Shia party announces three-day mourning over Allama Jalbani’s assassination

(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) The Majlis-e-Wahdat-e-Muslimeen has announced three days of mourning and protests over the assassination of its deputy secretary general, Allama Deedar Ali Jalbani, and his security guard in a targeted attack on Tuesday.Shops and petrol pumps of the area were closed down as immediate protests broke out near the Purani Numaish and a MWM official, Ali Ahmer, told The News that the party will observe nationwide peaceful protests from Wednesday onwards.MWM leader Allama Raja Nasir Abbas Jafri strongly condemned the attack and issued the government a 24-hour ultimatum to arrest the assassins. “The assassination of Allama Jalbani is an irreparable loss for Pakistan. He was a truly great person and Islamic scholar whose fundamental teachings were based on Muslim unity and service of humanity,” he said.“This attack is part of terrorists’ attempts to promote sectarian violence in the country, which have been afoot since the Ashura tragedy in Rawalpindi. By robbing Pakistanis of such a valuable asset, these elements are trying to dishearten a nation that has always bravely stood against terrorism,” Allama Jafri stated. He appealed to all peace-loving citizens to come together for peaceful protests to express solidarity with the heirs, relatives and friends of the martyred Allama Jalbani and his guard.With regards to the funeral rites of the MWM leader, Ali Ahmer said that the father of Allama Jalbani, who hailed from Khairpur, will make a final decision. He added that the security guard was from Hangu and a decision over sending his body back will be taken shortly.Parties condemn murderVarious political leaders condemned the murder of Allama Jalbani and his security guard. Provincial assembly speaker Agha Siraj Durrani conveyed his condolences over the death of the respected Shia leader and strongly criticized terrorist acts in the city, which he said were part of a conspiracy to disturb Karachi’s peace.Sunni Tehrik spokesman Fahimuddin Sheikh also expressed sympathies with the families of the murdered men and called for immediate arrest of the assassins. PML-F Secretary General Imtiaz Ahmed Sheikh said the attack was proof of the government’s failure in controlling law and order. “Despite a targeted operation being carried out by LEAs, targeted attacks and killings continue unabated in the city.” /149