SARFRAZ NAEEMI LAID TO REST AMIDST PROTESTS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 LAHORE 000119

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 6/16/2019
TAGS: PGOV PTER PK
SUBJECT: SARFRAZ NAEEMI LAID TO REST AMIDST PROTESTS

REF: LAHORE 000115

CLASSIFIED BY: Bryan Hunt, Principal Officer, Consulate Lahore,
U.S. Department of State.
REASON: 1.4 (b),(d)

1. (C) Summary: Funeral services for Dr. Sarfraz Naeemi brought
Lahore to a standstill June 13 as mourners flocked from all over
the city to pay their respects to the Brelvi leader killed in
June 12 suicide attack. Shopkeepers observed a day-long strike
while political leaders unanimously condemned the attack. End
Summary.

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Thousands pay respects to Naeemi
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2. (SBU) Funeral services for Dr. Allama Sarfraz Naeemi, the
Brelvi leader who died in a targeted suicide attack June 12,
attracted thousands of worshippers under tight security. Dr.
Naeemi's son and designated successor, Raghab Sarfraz, led the
prayers. After the funeral, a helicopter transported him to
Jamia Naeemia madrassah, where he received a guard of honor
before burial next to his father on the premises of Jamia
Naeemia.

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Leaders from all parties condemn attack
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3. (SBU) Because police advised prominent leaders to stay away
from the funeral, Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah, Federal
Religious Affairs Minister Hamid Saeed Kamzi and Member of
National Assembly Sahibzada Fazal Karim were the most senior
politicians who attended the ceremony. Before the funeral,
Punjab Governor Salman Tasser offered condolences to Dr.
Naeemi's son and told the media, "the late Dr. Naeemi was a
great religious scholar and he rendered meritorious services for
the cause of the country and the religion." In a condolence
message, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said that Naeemi
was held in great esteem in religious circles and that his
teachings would long be remembered. Pakistan Muslim
League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Nawaz Sharif also condemned the
attacks, stating "the killers of Dr. Mufti Sarfraz Naaemi have
proved themselves as enemies of Islam and Pakistan through such
a nefarious act." Speaker of the Punjab Assembly, Rana Muhammad
Iqbal called Naeemi a "symbol of unity among all sects."
Pakistan Muslim League leader Chaudhry Shujjat Hussain also
expressed profound grief over the loss, claiming that Naeemi was
the "undisputed leader of Ulema fighting against evils by
showing the true path of Allah Almighty to Muslims", according
to the press.

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Convention held at Jamia Naeemia
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4. (SBU) After the funeral, political and religious leaders
gathered at Jamia Naeemia madrassah in central Lahore to pay
tribute to Dr. Naeemi and his work. The Religious Affairs
Minister Hamid Saeed Kazmi condemned the killing in the press
and stated that the government would wipe out terrorists who
spread hate throughout the country. Pervaiz Malik, Senior
Political Assistant to Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, called
Naeemi a "national asset" who preached unity and harmony.
According to the press, Malik also stated that now is the time
for Muslims to unite and not concede to the wishes of the
terrorists to spread sectarian violence. Sunni organizations
such as Jamiat Ahle Sunnat and Sunni Tehrik condemned the
killing of Naeemi and chanted anti-Taliban slogans.

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Protests across Punjab
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5. (SBU) In response to the killing, protestors took to the
streets across Punjab June 13-14. In Burewala, Lalamusa and
Hafizabad traders observed strikes and sit-ins closed roads. In
Lalamusa, Gujrat district, protestors staged a sit-in, blocking
the Grand Trunk Road. They chanted slogans against the U.S. and
Taliban and exhorted the armed forces, according to press. In
Vehari district religious scholars led by district president
Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan Rana Abudl Ghaffar Qadri held a
condolence meeting. Paying glowing tribute to Naeemi, they
stated that his death only strengthened the resolve of the
nation to fight against militants, according to press.


6. (C) Comment: The murder of Dr. Sarfraz Naeemi has so far
served to galvanize politicians and moderate Pakistanis against
militant extremism. While Dr. Naeemi's Brelvi followers have
taken to the streets, the suicide attack has prompted other
politicians and religious leaders to speak out against the
Taliban. While the targeted killing could exacerbate the
division between Brelvis and Deobandis, Lahore's residents have

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unanimously and publicly condemned the violence.
HUNT