JHANG, Pakistan (AP) - A Sunni Muslim activist convicted of killing an Iranian diplomat 10 years ago was hanged Wednesday, causing deadly protests back in his hometown of Jhang.
Haq Nawaz, 35, was hanged shortly before dawn in a heavily fortified jail in Mianwali, 210 miles north of Lahore, the eastern Punjab province.
In the days leading up to the execution, police arrested about 1,000 members of Nawaz' militant group, Sipah-e-Sahaba or Guardians of the Friends of the Prophet, to prevent violent demonstrations.
But there was bitter fighting between followers of the militant group and police in Jhang, about 135 miles west of Lahore.
One man was shot to death and his body brought to Jhang Hospital, said Dr. Mohammed Sadiq, hospital medical superintendent. Eight other men were being treated for a variety of injuries, he said.
Outside the group's headquarters, police and soldiers pounded demonstrators with tear gas. There were unconfirmed reports that two activists were killed. Several other demonstrators were injured, witnesses said.
Police were pelted by stones thrown by demonstrators, some from rooftops, witnesses said.
About 1,500 wailing women and 2,000 men held a vigil outside Nawaz' home.
``Don't cry. He is a martyr. He is in heaven,'' said Khalid Mahmood Nawaz, his father, told the women. Devout Muslims believe that anyone who dies defending his faith is a martyr and will go directly to heaven.
Nawaz' body arrived in Jhang in an ambulance accompanied by two armored personnel carriers and seven police vehicles.
Police said they will allow only family members to attend the funeral, which is traditionally a public ceremony attended by friends and family.
Nawaz was found guilty of killing Sadiq Ganji of Iran in 1991 and sentenced to death.
The militant group had pleaded with the president of Pakistan to commute the death sentence. Organization leaders also met with Iranian officials to ask the Iranian government to accept money in exchange for Nawaz' life, something that is allowed in Islam.
Iran refused, said a group leader, Zahid Mahmood Qasmi.
About 25 members of the organization demonstrated outside the jail shouting slogans against Shiite Muslims. Nawaz' group has been blamed for scores of killings of Shiite Muslims, whom they want to be declared non-Muslims. Seven Shiite Muslims have been killed in shootings in the last two weeks.
Most of Pakistan's 140 million people are Sunni Muslims, who have no quarrel with their Shiite Muslim brethren.
But small, heavily armed and well-organized groups belonging to both sects of Islam operate in Pakistan and they routinely clash.
Nawaz' group accuses Iran of arming and financing Shiite Muslims in Pakistan. Iran has denied the charge.
AP-NY-02-28-01 0404EST
Copyright 2001 The Associated Press.