Mubashir Bukhari
Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir administration on Wednesdays night snapped internet services in Kashmir over rumours relating to separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani’s health.
The services were snapped late on Wednesday night after some social media posts claimed that the health of the 90-year-old has deteriorated.
But Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Baseer Ahmed Khan termed the reports about death of Hurriyat Conference Chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani as baseless.
He said a team from SKIMS visited his home for health checkup. “I personally talked to his son also. He confirmed Geelani sahib is stable,” he said.
Meanwhile, security forces were deployed in vulnerable areas of the Valley.
In a late night development, the All Parties Hurriyet (Freedom) Conference released an ‘urgent’ statement from Muzaffarabad (Pakistan Occupied Jammu & Kashmir), saying that all Imams and people should gather at Eidgah, Srinagar, for the funeral in case Geelani breaths his last.
In a two-page statement, Hurriyet announced that Geelani (90) has recently expressed his wish to be buried at the Mazar-e-Shuhada, Eidgah, Srinagar.
Hurriyet, which has its office in Muzaffarabad and Islamabad, also appealed to the people of the Valley to be respectful to the leader and join the funeral (in case he is no more).
The written statement said that for the last few days, the chest infection of Geelani was not responding to the ongoing treatment.
“There are rumours in the Valley about Geelani’s health condition. Till late night, nothing adverse has been reported. We are taking stock of the situation,” said a senior officer of the Srinagar police.
Considered as the senior most Hurriyat leader, Geelani was previously a member of Jamaat-e-Islami Kashmir but later on founded his own party by the name of Tehreek-e-Hurriyat.
