Yesterday, the Namaz-e-Janazah (funeral prayers) of Dr. Sarfraz Naeemi, who was martyred in a suicide attack this Friday, was offered and attended by thousands at the same Jamia Naeemia Madrassah which he used to head. Markets and commercial centres were closed in all major cities and towns in the renowned cleric’s memory as the whole nation mourned his loss.

Jamia Naeemia after the blast targeting Dr. Sarfraz Naeemi

Image source & more pictures at: BBC News ^[1]

Through this incident, the militants have given this war a major turn towards the moderates. Dr. Sarfraz was a progressive cleric who had issued fatwas against suicide bombings and killing of innocent men, women and children by the terrorist activities of the Taliban.

Dr. Naeemi’s loss has now enraged a significant section of society, the moderate religious lot, who are now going to follow the respected cleric’s footsteps by denouncing terrorism and extremism in all its forms. This would add more weight to the support gained by the government’s army offensive against miscreants in the troubled tribal areas plus Swat. The result might be hugely encouraging if the army is really succeeding in operation ‘Rah-e-Raast’. If it is not the case, we might see millions more becoming homeless, displaced and turning into possible recruits for furthering the terrorists’ agenda.

And we also need to stay vigilant against forces who may take this as an opportunity of igniting sectarian violence and hatred among our own people; a possibility that was seen for real at its ugliest in the Iraq war.