Thousands gather for stabbed Brit-Pakistani Asha Muneer’s funeral

LONDON - Over 1,000 mourners gathered for the funeral of Asha Muneer, the 18-year-old “absolutely beautiful girl” who was stabbed to death on a riverside path in UK this month.

A-level student Asha Muneer was attacked on an isolated riverside footpath in Reading, Berkshire, after leaving the Laura Ashley shop where she worked part-time.

Mourners comforted and hugged each other as they paid their respects to the popular girl.

Friends and relatives began to arrive at her funeral before midday, many staying until the coffin, adorned with flowers, was taken on to a private burial service more than two hours later. Grieving relatives wiped tears from their eyes as others said prayers.

Muneer’s uncle, Saeed Iqbal said the family had “lost everything”.

“It’s been absolutely terrible, absolutely terrible. Nobody can understand the hell we’ve been through. We can’t sleep, nobody can sleep, she comes into our eyes and mind and everywhere - we have just lost everything,” The Sun quoted Iqbal, as saying.

“She was an absolutely beautiful girl, she was innocent and somebody’s taken her life for no reason. The way it happened, it’s difficult - for my sister, for my brother, for the young kids - it’s absolutely terrible,” he added.

And he called for justice for the promising student, who had hoped to become a lawyer.

“Everyone, the whole community is there for us and now is the time for justice. I believe it (should be) a life for life. That’s my request, that’s my brother-in-law’s request, that’s my sister’s request - we are looking for justice and justice is a life for a life.”

Muneer, a part-time shop assistant, was on her way to meet friends at a McDonald’s when she was stabbed in the head and neck.

Her body was found on a secluded path next to the River Kennet in Reading.

A post-mortem revealed 25 knife wounds.

Her former boyfriend, Gulamyr Akhter, 19, of Reading, has appeared in court charged with her murder. (ANI)