Thousands attend funeral of Manqabat reciters Khawaja Ali Kazm and Ali Rizvi in Sakrdu

GILGIT: Thousands of fans, supporters, and friends attended the funeral prayers of Manqabat reciters Syed Jan Ali Rizvi, Khawaja Ali Kazim, and his brother Khawaja Nadeem, who died along with two others in a road accident in Sindh’s Jamshoro district on Friday.

Their bodies were transported to Imamia Jamia Masjid Skardu from Skardu International Airport in a massive rally attended by hundreds. The funeral prayers were held at Imamia Jamia Masjid Skardu, after which the bodies of Khawaja Ali Kazim and his brother Khawaja Nadeem were taken to Ragiyol Skardu, while the body of Syed Jan Ali Rizvi was transported to Shigar for burial.

A wave of grief and shock gripped the country on Friday when the car carrying Kazim, Syed Jan Ali Rizvi, and Zain Turabi—son of the late scholar Hassan Turabi—collided with a Fortuner in the Sann locality of Manjhand taluka, Jamshoro district, on the Indus Highway while traveling to Karachi.

The three performers were traveling to Karachi from Khairpur after participating in the annual birthday celebrations of Imam-e-Zamana oraganised by Anjuman Haideri Khairpur. The accident claimed the lives of Kazim, Syed Jan Ali Rizvi, Zain Turabi, Kazim’s brother Khawaja Nadeem, and another man identified as Abdul Ghani, while six others sustained serious injuries.

The injured include Bilal Niazi, Ahsan Niazi, Majid Niazi, Muhammad Ishaq Niazi, Aziz Bhatti, and Muhammad Shabbir. According to Kazim’s social media, he had returned from Najaf, Iraq, on Tuesday and was scheduled to perform in Karachi.

Kazim, a grade-eight student, had emerged as a notable voice in religious poetry circles, with his performances garnering significant attention across social media networks.

Fellow travelers of the 11-year-old performer, Syed Jan Ali Rizvi and Zain Turabi, were also known for their contributions to religious recitation.

The news of their death sparked an outpouring of condolences from followers and fellow artists across Pakistan’s religious poetry community.

Expressing deep sorrow and grief over the tragic accident, Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Minister Gulbar Khan prayed for the departed souls and extended heartfelt condolences to the families and loved ones of late reciters. He assured them that his government stands in solidarity with the bereaved families during this difficult time.

Gilgit-Baltistan Council members also expressed their profound sadness, saying that the tragedy was an irreparable loss not only for their families but also for all devotees of Ahlul Bait.

“In this time of sorrow, we share the grief of all the mourning families. We pray to the Almighty to grant eternal peace to the departed souls, elevate their ranks among the pious, and bestow patience upon their loved ones,” they said in a condolence message.

The G-B Council members urged the Sindh Government to conduct a transparent investigation into this tragic incident and ensure that those responsible are brought to justice.