PESHAWAR: NWFP Senior Minister Hayat Mohammad Khan Sherpao was today [Feb 9] laid to rest amidst wails and cries by thousands of persons at his ancestral graveyard.

... Federal and provincial Ministers, PPP leaders and workers, students, friends and admirers sobbed as Mr Sherpao`s coffin was lifted from his residence for Namaz-i-Janaza.

The people burst into cries when the coffin wrapped in PPP flag was lowered into the grave. Some people fainted. Despite all arrangements the gathering was unmanageable and the Janaza prayers had to be held twice.

President Fazal Elahi Chaudhry, army chief Gen Tikka Khan [and other officials and dignitaries] participated in the Janaza prayers.

Earlier, in the morning a caravan of cars, buses, wagons and other vehicles proceeded from Peshawar to Charsadda from where it had to go to Sherpao. News agencies [Our staff reporter adds,] Mr. Abdul Wali Khan, the NAP chief and Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly; Mr.

Arbab Sikandar Khan, former Governor of the NWFP; and several other NAP leaders were detained in various parts of the country. ... Over 40 persons were arrested in the NWFP as a sequel to the assassination of [Mr. Sherpao].