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Pakistan observing day of official mourning over demise of Syed Ali Shah Geelani
Srinagar: Condoling the demise of senior Kashmiri leader Syed Ali Geelani, Pakistan is observing a day of official mourning on Thursday.
In a couple of tweets, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan expressed grief over the demise and said the country will observe a day of official mourning.
“Deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Kashmiri freedom fighter Syed Ali Geelani who struggled all his life for his people & their right to self-determination. He suffered incarceration & torture by the Occupying Indian state but remained resolute,” he wrote on Twitter.
In another tweet, Khan wrote, “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.”
Residents of the Kashmir Valley woke up to a communication blackout and restrictions imposed on the movement by the armed forces after Syed Ali Shah Geelani passed away at his home last night.
Barricades and paramilitary personnel were deployed in the city while civilians were not allowed to commute.
“There is very heavy deployment on the streets. I could not go out,” a resident of Srinagar told Free Press Kashmir.
Except a few government-owned BSNL networks, all mobile connections were snapped at night. Mobile internet services remain shut in the Valley.
The administration imposed restrictions on movement and communication after Hurriyat stalwart Syed Ali Shah Geelani passed away.
The IGP while speaking to the press near Geelani’s residence last night said that only the relatives of Geelani will be allowed to attend the funeral.
Geelani was 92. He succumbed to prolonged illness at his residence in Srinagar’s Hyderpora, where he was kept under house detention for the last 11 years.
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