Syed Ali Geelani: Kashmir loses an essential beacon of hope

Syed Ali Geelani, a prominent and revolutionary leader and activist of Kashmir, passed away at the age of 92 on Wednesday, the 1st of September. He was surrounded by family members as he peacefully breathed his last.

When the news of his passing was announced from the mosque’s loudspeakers, supporters began to collect around his house to mourn his death, but the occupation forces declared that no one was allowed to leave their homes; they cut off mobile internet services, called additional security forces to the area and blocked the roads leading to Geelani’s house with barricades and barbed wires. The forces also began to patrol the main roads in trucks and armored vehicles in order to ensure no one roamed the area or approached Geelani’s house.

Geelani was one of the most iconic figures of the resistance against India and a strong critic of their unjust policies imposed in Kashmir. Despite spending more than 10 years in jail after 1962 and being under house arrest at various times throughout his life, he was utterly uncompromising in his fight for the basic human rights denied to Kashmiris. Even at the time of his death, Geelani had been confined within his house, despite suffering from acute illnesses and being aged.

A holder of Nishan-e-Pakistan, Geelani created his own political party Tehreek-e-Hurriyat and was a member of the Kashmir assembly from the Sopore district three times. He was a veteran of Kashmir’s politics and had been the chairman of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) as well, a forum of 26 political, social, and religious organizations allied to fight for the rights of the Kashmiris.

According to sources, the Indian forces were trying to take away Syed Ali Geelani’s body after his death and deny the mourners a right to carry out a funeral or they would bury him in an unnamed grave away from Srinagar.

Upon his demise, Prime Minister Imran Khan declared a day of official mourning all across the country and he tweeted his condolences, stating that Pakistan saluted Geelani’s lifelong courageous struggles.

Several other prominent individuals tweeted their condolences after the demise of Syed Ali Geelani as well, including Maryam Nawaz, Shahbaz Sharif, COAS Qamar Javed Bajwa and others.

President Arif Alvi also put forward a statement expressing his grievances, saying that Kashmir had lost a great leader and that he would be praying for the deceased and his family.

The country is mourning the loss of the renowned Syed Ali Geelani by an official day of mourning today in which the flag of Pakistan is to remain at half-mast.

Syed Ali Geelani, a prominent and revolutionary leader and activist of Kashmir, passed away at the age of 92 on Wednesday, the 1st of September. He was surrounded by family members as he peacefully breathed his last.

When the news of his passing was announced from the mosque’s loudspeakers, supporters began to collect around his house to mourn his death, but the occupation forces declared that no one was allowed to leave their homes; they cut off mobile internet services, called additional security forces to the area and blocked the roads leading to Geelani’s house with barricades and barbed wires. The forces also began to patrol the main roads in trucks and armored vehicles in order to ensure no one roamed the area or approached Geelani’s house.

Geelani was one of the most iconic figures of the resistance against India and a strong critic of their unjust policies imposed in Kashmir. Despite spending more than 10 years in jail after 1962 and being under house arrest at various times throughout his life, he was utterly uncompromising in his fight for the basic human rights denied to Kashmiris. Even at the time of his death, Geelani had been confined within his house, despite suffering from acute illnesses and being aged.

A holder of Nishan-e-Pakistan, Geelani created his own political party Tehreek-e-Hurriyat and was a member of the Kashmir assembly from the Sopore district three times. He was a veteran of Kashmir’s politics and had been the chairman of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) as well, a forum of 26 political, social, and religious organizations allied to fight for the rights of the Kashmiris.

According to sources, the Indian forces were trying to take away Syed Ali Geelani’s body after his death and deny the mourners a right to carry out a funeral or they would bury him in an unnamed grave away from Srinagar.

Upon his demise, Prime Minister Imran Khan declared a day of official mourning all across the country and he tweeted his condolences, stating that Pakistan saluted Geelani’s lifelong courageous struggles.

Several other prominent individuals tweeted their condolences after the demise of Syed Ali Geelani as well, including Maryam Nawaz, Shahbaz Sharif, COAS Qamar Javed Bajwa, and others.

President Arif Alvi also put forward a statement expressing his grievances, saying that Kashmir had lost a great leader and that he would be praying for the deceased and his family.

The country is mourning the loss of the renowned Syed Ali Geelani by an official day of mourning today in which the flag of Pakistan is to remain at half-mast.

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