Following the sad demise of veteran Kashmiri leader Syed Ali Geelani, Prime Minister Imran Khan has announced that Pakistan's flag will fly at half-mast and a day of official mourning will be observed across the country.
"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," the premier wrote on his official Twitter handle on Wednesday.
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.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) September 1, 2021
The premier said that Geelani suffered incarceration and torture by the occupying Indian state but remained resolute. "We in Pakistan salute his courageous struggle & remember his words: 'Hum Pakistani hain aur Pakistan Humara hai'," he wrote in another tweet.
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
Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa also expressed his grief on the sad demise of Kashmiri leader, terming Geelani an icon of Kashmir's freedom movement.
“His lifelong sacrifices & ceaseless struggle symbolises indomitable resolve of Kashmiris against Indian occupation. His dream & his mission will live on until People of IIOJ&K win their right of self determination," the army chief was quoted as saying by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).
General Qamar Javed Bajwa #COAS expresses deepest grief on the sad demise of Syed Ali Shah Geelani, icon of #Kashmir Freedom Movement. “ His lifelong sacrifices & ceaseless struggle symbolises indomitable resolve of Kashmiris against Indian occupation. (1/2)
— DG ISPR (@OfficialDGISPR) September 1, 2021
...His dream & his mission will live on until People of IIOJ&K win their right of self determination”. COAS (2/2)
— DG ISPR (@OfficialDGISPR) September 1, 2021
Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said that Geelani fought for the rights of Kashmiris till the very end.
"Pakistan mourns the loss of Syed Ali Shah Geelani, torchbearer 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," Qureshi wrote on Twitter.
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
Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir Sardar Abdul Qayyum Niazi tweeted that Geelani dedicated his life for the freedom of Kashmir.
سید علی گیلانی کی رحلت کا سن کر دل رنجیدہ ہے، وہ تحریک آزادی کشمیر کے روح رواں تھے، انہوں نے اپنی پوری زندگی تحریک آزادی کشمیر کے لیے وقف کر رکھی تھی، سید گیلانی نے بھارتی ظلم و جبر کا دلیری کیساتھ مقابلہ کیا وہ ایک عزم و حوصلہ کے کوہ گراں تھے،
— Sardar Abdul Qayyum Niazi (@AqayyumniaziPTI) September 1, 2021
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Former chief minister Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) Mehbooba Mufti expressed her sadness over the passing of Geelani.
"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," she wrote on her Twitter handle.
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
Other members of the government including Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry and Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed also paid their tribute to the veteran Kashmiri leader.
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
حریت رہنما سید علی گیلانی کی وفات پر گہرے رنج او غم کااظہار کرتا ہوں
— Sheikh Rashid Ahmed (@ShkhRasheed) September 1, 2021
لواحقین کے ساتھ اظہار ہمدری؛ کشمیری قوم سے اظہار یکجہتی کرتا ہوں۔
کاش مقبوضہ وادی جا سکوں اور گیلانی صاحب کی تدفین میں شامل ہوسکوں۔
پوری کشمیری قوم کے غم میں برابر کا شریک ہوں۔
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Really saddened to hear about the passing away of Syed Ali Gillani sahb.
— Usman Buzdar (@UsmanAKBuzdar) September 1, 2021
May Allah SWT grant him highest place in heaven.
He was a symbol of resilience and resistance against Indian atrocities and Inshallah his determined struggle for the freedom of Kashmir will not go in vain!!
The passing of iconic freedom leader Syed Ali Geelani is tragic RIP. Strongest voice for Kashmiri resistance that shook Illegal Occupational regime of India in Jammu&Kashmir.He & his comrades strived for freedom of Kashmiris.We promise to carry forward his mission #SyedAliGillani
— Shehryar Afridi (@ShehryarAfridi1) September 1, 2021
Syed Ali Shah Geelani was a stalwart leader.
— Jam Kamal Khan (@jam_kamal) September 1, 2021
May Allah Ta'aala grant him jannat & condolences to his family & well wishers pic.twitter.com/H6KbFupDtJ
Heartbreaking news about the demise of Shaheed Syed Ali Geelani. He lived his life for the people of Kashmir and for their freedom from India’s illegal and oppressive occupation. He was a hero for Kashmiris and Pakistanis alike. May Allah (swt) rest his soul in peace 1/4 pic.twitter.com/SYJgfP5fRh
— Moeed W. Yusuf (@YusufMoeed) September 1, 2021
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