Remembering Ali Geelani
AFTER relentlessly struggling and fighting against the Indian occupying forces for more than half a century, on the night of 01 September 2021, the veteran Kashmiri freedom movement leader and former Chairman of All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) Syed Ali Shah Geelani passed away at his home in Srinagar, Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).
He was almost 92 years old. As per his wishes, his body was wrapped in Pakistan flag, which unnecessarily infuriated occupying Indian forces.
His family was arrested, his body was snatched and desecrated by the Indian forces and buried without proper Muslim rituals.
Soon after that, pre-empting reaction of the people, the occupying forces locked down the entire IIOJK and especially mosques were targeted.
The people of IIOJK suffered and are still suffering the inhumane treatment by the occupying Indian forces, since its illegal and immoral occupation by the Republic of India in 1948.
However, the Indian atrocities have accentuated such horrific acts under the premiership of right-wing Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the mayhem has surpassed the brutal tactics of Nazi Germany.
A few days after the recent episode of Indian viciousness, Pakistan requested the United Nations (UN) to conduct “an impartial but immediate UN investigation into the custodial killing” of Shaheed Geelani.
Previously, he was awarded Nishan-e-Pakistan by the Government of Pakistan for his unbeaten services for the people of IIOJK.
To make things worse, PM Modi revoked the special status of IIOJK and while abrogating the international law, it repealed the Articles 370 and 35A of the Indian Constitution on August 5, 2019.
Since that time, Shaheed Geelani was under undeclared, yet strict house arrest and all kinds of medical and communication facilities were forbidden for such an old person.
It is to be remembered here that on May 5, this year, Geelani’s closest confidant Mohammad Ashraf Sehrai, passed away due to COVID-19, in custody of the occupying Indian forces.
It is beyond cruelty and cold-heartedness on the Indian conscience that both Geelani and Sehrai were ageing political individuals and despite being gravely sick, were barred from any medical assistance.
A well-known author and historian Alastair Lamb lauded Syed Ali Shah Geelani’s righteousness in 1991 and mentioned that he did not take part in the 1983 State Elections “on the ground that to do so would be to endorse the State’s accession to India.”
Later, Geelani and his compatriots were arrested in March 1985 and suffered torture of the worst kind.
The President of Pakistan Dr Arif-ur-Rehman Alvi paid homage to Shaheed Geelani for his lifelong struggle against the Indian illegal occupation and condemned the cold-blooded behaviour of Indian armed forces.
The Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan also extended his condolences to the grieved family and prayed for the departed soul.
PM Khan also took the Indian illegal authorities in a heavy-handed manner for snatching the body of Ali Geelani and burying it in the darkness of night, while denying the family of religious rites and rituals.
The National Security Adviser of Pakistan Dr Moeed W Yusuf also expressed his heartfelt comments for Syed Ali Geelani and argued that “He lived his life for the people of Kashmir and for their freedom from India’s illegal and oppressive occupation.”
While addressing the “6th Think Tank Forum” hosted by the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) on September 2, 2021, the honourable Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Foreign Minister of Pakistan, expressed his grief and sorrow over the sad demise of Geelani.
FM Qureshi paid glowing tributes to the long and steadfast struggle of the Kashmiri freedom leader.
He argued that he was completely shocked over the treatment of Indian occupying forces which they did to the survivors of Geelani.
Also, Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the Indian High Commissioner in Islamabad and strongly protested the snatching of Geelani’s body and burial against the wishes of his family.
Undoubtedly, India under PM Modi presents the modern-day picture of Nazi Germany under Hitler.
The aged Shaheed Geelani was elected several times and represented the people of IIOJK and being a former representative, he deserved medical facilities of all sorts. Nonetheless, he was denied access to such facilities even on humanitarian grounds.
However, contrary to the much-needed medical treatment amid ailing health, it is worth noting that Shaheed Geelani did not yield to Indian atrocities and inhumane behaviour – above all, he did not beg for such rightful basic human rights.
Instead, till his last breath, he was steadfast and like the Sons of Liberty (American revolutionaries), Geelani’s heart and soul awaited nothing, but freedom and liberty.
It is quite deplorable that the Modi government with its sham democracy and flawed pluralistic propaganda, intends to prosecute Geelani’s legacy and its family under the Draconian laws.
If Shaheed Geelani was guilty of anything, that he was guilty of demanding the inalienable rights of freedom and liberty for the besieged people of IIOJK.
—The writer is Research Associate at Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI).
