Ehsan Elahi Zaheer
Ehsan Elahi Zaheer () (31 May 1945 – 30 March 1987) was a Pakistani Islamic scholar. He was the founder of Jamiat Ahle Hadith. He died from an assassin's bomb blast in 1987. He was taken to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in injured condition. He died there and was buried in Mazar-Al-Baqi. Early life and education. Zaheer was born in 1940 in Sialkot into a deeply religious trading Punjabi family. His father Haji Zahoor Ilahi was a very religious person. He was formally educated from Gujranwala and Faisalabad before earning Masters in Arabic, Islamic studies, Urdu and  Persian at the University of the Punjab and further continuing his studies in Islamic law at the University of Madinah under many scholars. Political career. Tehreek-e-Istiqlal. In 1972, Ehsan Elahi Zaheer joined the political party Tehreek-e-Istiqlal. After Ehsan Elahi joined the party, it became the second most popular party of Pakistan. Ehsan left the party in 1978. Jamiat Ahle Hadith. In March 1986, Zaheer founded his political party Jamiat Ahle Hadith. Zaheer used to criticize Zia-ul-Haq. After Zaheer was assassinated, the party was led by his son Ibtisam Elahi Zaheer. Assassination. While Zaheer was  giving a speech, a bomb which had been planted on the stage exploded, killing him. Zaheer's family accused Iran-backed Shia militants of killing him. Upon the request of Saudi Grand Mufti Abd al-Aziz ibn Baz, Zaheer was transferred to Saudi Arabia for treatment at The National Guard Hospital. Medics could not save him from his severe wounds. His funeral prayer was led by Abd al-Aziz ibn Baz in Medina, Saudi Arabia, attended by millions including the country's main Islamic scholars, and he was buried in Al-Baqi cemetery. Personal life. Ehsan Elahi Zaheer had three  sons: Ibtisam Elahi Zaheer, Hisham Elahi Zaheer and Motasim Elahi Zaheer. Books. He mainly wrote in Arabic but his works have been translated into Urdu and many other languages: