PM, President, other leaders condole Syed Geelani’s sad demise

Veteran Hurriyat leader and former chairman All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) Syed Ali Geelani passed away on Wednesday night at his home in Srinagar at 10pm. He was 91.

Geelani died due to prologned illness as he had been confined to his house for the last several years.

Imran Khan in a statement said, he was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Kashmiri freedom fighter Syed Ali Gilani who struggled all his life for his people and their right to self-determination.

“He suffered incarceration and torture by the occupying Indian state but remained resolute.”

“We in Pakistan salute his courageous struggle and remember his words, “Hum Pakistani hain aur Pakistan hamara hai.”

The PM said the Pakistan flag will fly at half mast and the country will observe a day of official mourning.

We in Pakistan salute his courageous struggle & remember his words: "Hum Pakistani hain aur Pakistan Humara hai". The Pakistan flag will fly at half mast and we will observe a day of official mourning.

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) September 1, 2021

President Dr Arif Alvi also expressed his deep grief and sorrow over the sad demise of the veteran leader Syed Ali Shah Gilani.

In a condolence statement, he said Kashmir was deprived of a great leader who remained steadfast against the Indian imperialism all his life.

Former President Azad Kashmir Masood Khan, former envoy Abdul Basit and others also mourned passing away of the Kashmiri leader.

Syed Ali Geelani, the brave and resolute Kashmiri leader, is no more. May his soul rest in peace. People of Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan mourn his passing away. So do freedom lovers all over the world.

— Masood Khan (@Masood__Khan) September 1, 2021

The flame of freedom that Syed Ali Geelani lit for generations will continue to burn brighter.

— Masood Khan (@Masood__Khan) September 1, 2021

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said, Pakistan mourns the loss of Syed Ali Shah Gillani, the torch bearer of the Kashmir freedom movement, who fought for the rights of Kashmiris till the very end, under house arrest of Indian occupation.

Pakistan has expressed the deeply mourn on the death of the iconic leader of the Kashmiri resistance, Syed Ali Shah Gillani, who was under prolonged house arrest in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

Pakistan mourns the loss of Syed Ali Shah Geelani, torch bearer of the Kashmir freedom movement. Shah Sb fought for the rights of Kashmiris till the very end, under house arrest of Indian occupation. May he rest in peace and may his dream of freedom come true.

— Shah Mahmood Qureshi (@SMQureshiPTI) September 1, 2021

Minister for Information and Broadcasting Chaudhry Fawad Hussain and Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Farrukh Habib have expressed grief and sorrow over the sad demise of veteran Kashmiri leader Syed Ali Gillani.

In his video message the Information Minister said the sad news of Gillani’s death has shocked and saddened the people of Kashmir as well as Pakistan.

He said the candle to fight against Indian tyranny lit by Syed Ali Gillani in Kashmir would continue till winning independence.

کون کہتا ہے موت آئ تو مر جاؤں گا۔۔میں تو دریا ہوں سمندر میں اتر جاؤں گا۔۔۔۔ RIPSyedAliGillani #Kashmir pic.twitter.com/V1iqbQ6gHC

— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) September 1, 2021

Syed Ali Geelani was born on September 29, 1929 to Syed Peer Shah Geelani of Zoori Munz village in Tehsil Bandipora which then formed a part of Baramulla district.

Geelani received his preliminary education at Sopore, and finished his studies at the Oriental College, Lahore (Pakistan).

Geelani spent his boyhood in the headquarters of Plebiscite Front at Mujahid Manzil.

Ali Gilani was a brave, courageous and sincere leader, he said and prayed Allah Almighty to rest the departed soul in eternal peace and grant courage to the bereaved family to bear the loss with fortitude.