Syed Ali Geelani's third death anniversary: PM and President honour legacy

Posters held in various areas of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).

The third death anniversary of veteran Hurriyat leader and the icon of Kashmir resistance movement Syed Ali Gilani is being observed today.

Syed Ali Gilani passed away on September 1, 2021, while under house arrest at his Hyderpora residence.

The APHC has appealed to the Kashmiri Diaspora to hold peaceful demonstrations worldwide to highlight Indian brutalities in the territory.

Incarcerated APHC Chairman Masarat Aalam Butt, in his message from New Delhi's Tihar Jail, said India will never succeed in extinguishing the Kashmiri people's desire for freedom.  

Posters have again appeared across various areas of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) calling people to honour Syed Ali Gilani's memory and reinforcing that the sacrifices of Kashmiri martyrs will not be forgotten.

Meanwhile, public gatherings, seminars, and rallies will be held across Azad Jammu and Kashmir under the Kashmir Liberation Commission, Pasban e Hurriyat, Hurriayat organisations, and education institutions wherein tributes will be paid to the famous slogan ‘Hum Pakistani Hain, Pakistan Hamara Hai’ of Syed Ali Gilani.

PM, President honour Syed Ali Geelani’s legacy, pledge ongoing support for IIOJK

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari reaffirmed the nation’s unwavering moral, diplomatic, and political support to the Kashmiri people on the third death anniversary of Syed Ali Shah Geelani. Both leaders paid tribute to Geelani, recognising his lifelong struggle for the right to self-determination for the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).

In his message, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif emphasised that Geelani's name would forever be associated with the Kashmiris’ freedom movement, highlighting his unwavering resolve despite years of imprisonment. 

PM Shehbaz reiterated Pakistan's commitment to supporting the Kashmiri cause, stressing that Geelani's sacrifices would not be in vain.

President Zardari also lauded Geelani's enduring legacy, describing him as a beacon of hope and resistance for the oppressed people of IIOJK.

Zardari praised Geelani's relentless efforts and assured that Pakistan would continue to advocate for the Kashmiris' right to self-determination as enshrined in United Nations Security Council resolutions.

The messages from Pakistan’s leadership reflect the country’s steadfast stance on the Kashmir issue, underlining their support for the Kashmiri people’s struggle for freedom.

Who was Syed Ali Geelani?

Born in 1929 in the village of Zeri Manz, Tehsil Bandipora, Geelani was a pivotal figure in the Kashmiri freedom movement and remained a staunch advocate for the region's accession to Pakistan.

Geelani's political journey saw him elected to the legislative assembly of IIOJK in 1972, 1977, and 1987.

He was a member of the National Conference, Jamaat-e-Islami, and the Tehreek-e-Hurriyat, and in 1993, he co-founded the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC), serving as its chairman three times between 1998 and 2006.

In 2015, the APHC leadership appointed him as its lifetime chairman.

Under house arrest for the last 11 years of his life, Geelani's passport was confiscated by the Indian government in 1981.

He passed away on 1 September 2021, in Hyderpora, Srinagar, after which a strict curfew was imposed by the Indian authorities, and communications were suspended across the region.

Geelani’s body was buried wrapped in the Pakistani flag, and Pakistan's National Assembly observed a symbolic funeral prayer with the national flag flown at half-mast.

Known for his unwavering stance against Indian rule and his support for Kashmir’s accession to Pakistan, Geelani authored 21 books, including Rudad-e-Qafas and Nawai Hurriyat.

In recognition of his contributions to the freedom movement, the Government of Pakistan awarded him the country's highest civilian honour, the Nishan-e-Pakistan.