Kashmir pro-Pakistan separatist Syed Ali Shah Gilani died aged 92 at his home in Srinagar on Wednesday night. The hard-line Islamic leader who has been the face of separatist politics in Jammu and Kashmir has been sick for a long time and renounced politics and freedoms last year. The funeral will probably take place in the morning.
In March 2018, he had a minor heart attack and was taken to hospital.
“We are saddened by the news of Gilani Sahab’s death. We may not agree on most matters, but I respect you for your firmness and for defending your beliefs. May God grant you a paradise and condolences to your family and well-desired ones. ” Former Prime Minister and leader of the People’s Democratic Party, Mehbooba Mufti, tweeted.
Saddened by the news of Geelani sahab’s passing away. We may not have agreed on most things but I respect him for his steadfastness & standing by his beliefs. May Allah Ta’aala grant him jannat & condolences to his family & well wishers.
— Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) September 1, 2021
Security was tightened in the Kashmir Valley after his death on Wednesday night.
Vijay Kumar, a Kashmir police official, said restrictions, including the suspension of internet services, had been imposed in the Kashmir valley. Security was also tightened outside Gilani’s home in Hyderbora.
Some of the senior members of Huriyat were arrested. Freedom leader Mukhtar Ahmad Waza was arrested at his residence in the city of Anantnag in southern Kashmir.
Interior Ministry sources told NDTV that Gilani resigned from the separatist body after 27 years of association after being removed from Pakistan and Pakistani Army Intelligence.
Upon leaving the post of the largest separatist mixture in the Valley of Kashmir, he accused him of conspiring against him and not triggering the separatist movement after the center revoked the special status of Jammu and Kashmir in August 2019.
“Gilani’s message was compelling. He admitted that his path was wrong and that Kashmir was used for personal gain,” state police chief Dilbagh Singh told NDTV.
Syed Ali Shah Gilani was elected to the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly by the Sopur constituency in 1972, 1977 and 1987.