BAHAWALPUR: The eight Pakistani workers slain in Iran`s Sistan-Baluchestan province were laid to rest on Thursday in their ancestral villages across Bahawalpur district.

A collective funeral prayer for four of the victims Dilshad, Danish, Jaffer, and Naeem was offered at the Government Boys High School ground in Khangah Sharif. The service was attended by a large number of mourners, including Federal Parliamentary Secretary for Railways Mian Usman Najeeb Owaisi, Regional Police Officer Rai Babar Saeed, and Deputy Commissioner Dr Farhan Farooq.

The funeral prayers for Muhammad Khalid and Muhammad Jamshed were held in Ahmedpur East`s Mehrabpur and Chakkiwala Moore, respectively. The remaining two victims, Aamir and Nasir, were laid to rest in Sandhianwala and villageRangpur near Khangah Sharif.

Moving scenes unfolded on Thursday morning as the coffins arrived from Bahawalpur airport to Khangah Sharif. Family, joined by large crowds, broke into sobs and wails upon receiving the bodies.

Earlier today, during pre-dawn hours, a special Pakistani plane carrying bodies from Zahidan airport landed at Bahawalpur airport.

Divisional Commissioner Bahawalpur Musarrat Jabeen, along with divisional and district administrative officials, received the coffins amid tight security.

Commissioner Jabeenoversaw the dispatch of the bodies via ambulances to their respective villages, escorted by security personnel.

The families got the bodies of their loved ones after undergoing agony for five days. As of Thursday evening, the Pakistani government had not announced any compensation for the bereaved families.

It may be recalled that unknown armed men barged into an auto workshop, established by Danish in Iran`s SistanBaluchestan, in the night of April 12, and after tying their hands and feet, opened indiscriminate fire and killed them on the spot.