AIMIM chief's mortal remains laid to rest

Hyderabad, Sep 30 (UNI) All India Majlis Ittaheed-Ul-Musleemin (AIMIM) President Sultan Salahuddin Owaisi, who died here last night after a prolonged illness, was buried at the Aga Dawood Saheb Dargah at Agapura with state honours after the 'Zohr' (noon) prayers.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy and All India Congress Committee General Secretary and in-charge of party affairs in Andhra Pradesh Veerappa Moily were among the leaders who paid their last respects to the 72-year-old leader at the Darusalam, the party headquarters, before the funeral procession.

Thousands of his supporters took part in the funeral conducted by Muqtar Khaleel Ahmad.

Mr Moily attended the funeral representing UPA Chairperson and Congress President Sonia Gandhi.

Among others, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Railway Minister Lalu Prasad condoled the death of Owaisi.

Owaisi, who had turned the Hyderabad city into an ''AIMIM fortress,'' is survived by his wife, three sons and a daughter.

His elder son Asaduddin Owaisi is AIMIM MP, while his second son Akbaruddin Owaisi leads the AIMIM Legislature Party in the Andhra Pradesh Assembly. His youngest son Burhanuddin Owaisi is the publisher of an Urdu daily Etemaad.

(Eds: here pls pick up suitably from MS1) UNI SM/DB MIR AS1617