The late Punjab Governor Salmaan Taseer was laid to rest with all state honours in here at Cavalry Ground graveyard on Wednesday amid stringent security measures and in an atmosphere of sobs and tears. The body of the slain Governor was flown to the Cavalry Ground graveyard on a military helicopter from Governor House, after funeral prayers.
Floral wreaths were laid at his grave on behalf of the President, the Prime Minister, Services Chiefs, PPP leaders and family members of the deceased Governor, who was gunned down in the Kohsar Market Islamabad on Tuesday by one of the guards deputed for his security.
In the graveyard, extraordinary security arrangements were made and only close family members of the deceased and a few leaders of PPP were allowed entry, besides media personnel, after proper checking. A contingent of Punjab Police presented guard of honour to the slain Governor. After the burial, the widow of late Salmaan Tasser also visited the grave of her husband and offered fateha.
Earlier, namaz-e-janaza of Punjab Governor Salmaan Taseer was offered at Governor House amid unprecedented security cover. Allama Mohammad Afzal Chishti, head of PPP Ulema Wing, led the funeral prayer. A large number of people hailing from different walks of life, including politicians, businessmen, civil and military officials, political activists, media men, human rights activists and educationists, attended the funeral prayer.
Prominent among those who attended the funeral were Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, Senate Chairman Farooq Naek, Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Interior Minister Rehman Malik, Defence Minister Ahmed Mukhtar, Minister for Kashmir Affairs Manzoor Ahmed Wattoo, Minister for Labour Khurshid Ahmed Shah, Minister for Railways Ghulam Ahmed Bilour, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Qamar Zaman Kaira, PPP Secretary General Jahangir Badr, MQM leaders Babur Ghauri, Haider Abbas Rizvi, former Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri, former Punjab Governors Khalid Maqbool and Ghulam Mustafa Khar, PPP Punjab President Imtiaz Safdar Warriach, PPP Punjab Ministers Riaz Ahmed, Tanvir Ashraf Kaira, Dr Tanveer ul Islam, Farooq Yusuf Ghurki, Ashraf Sohna, PML-N provincial Ministers Nadeem Kamran and Ehsan ud din Qureshi.
Elaborate security arrangements were made around the Governor House and roads leading to it were sealed. Entry to the Governor House was allowed after proper body search at different points. Heavy police contingent, equipped with sophisticated weapons, was deployed at important places and roads in and around the Governor House.
PPP activists including women workers thronged the Governor House lawns carrying PPP flags and raising slogans 'Zinda hai Bhutto Zinda hai', 'Alwida, Alwida, Salmaan Alwida'. A group of PPP activists raised full-throated slogans against Sharifs and Punjab Law Minister Sanaullah and demanded arrest of the culprits. The PPP workers took Interior Minister Rehman Malik in their fold, demanding arrest of assassins of Benazir and Salmaan Taseer. The PPP leaders, however, asked the party workers to show calm and remain peaceful. After offering funeral prayer, PPP activists dispersed peacefully.
All government offices, educational institutions and business centres remained closed on Wednesday. Punjab Government had announced holiday on Wednesday while the federal government has announced three-day mourning to mourn the assassination of Salmaan Taseer. National flag flew at half-mast on all important places and government buildings and offices.