Islamabad: The third anniversary of Syed Ali Shah Geelani, the Lion of Kashmir, is being celebrated today with devotion and respect. On the occasion of the anniversary, there is a shutter down strike in the occupied valley.
Syed Ali Geelani was born in 1929 in Zari Manj village of Tehsil Bandipora, studied at Madrasah attached to Wazir Khan Mosque and Oriental College Lahore.
Reporter in Akhbar Khittam and held the post of teacher in Pathar Masjid Srinagar and Intermediate College Sopore.
In the years 1977, 1972 and 1987, he was also elected as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Occupied Kashmir. In his political career, he was also a member of the National Conference, Jamaat-e-Islami and Tehreek Hurriyat.
He founded the All Parties Hurriyat Conference in 1993 and was elected chairman three times from 1998 to 2006, while in 2015 the leadership of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference elected Syed Ali Gilani as the chairman for life.
For 11 years from 2010 till his death, he was imprisoned on the orders of the usurping Indian governments. Syed Ali Shah Geelani’s passport was confiscated by the Indian government since 1981.
Syed Ali Shah Geelani met Khaliq Haqiji in Hyderpura Srinagar on September 1, 2021. After receiving the news of his death, the fearful Modi government imposed a curfew across the valley, internet and media were suspended.
Syed Ali Geelani’s body was wrapped in a khaki Pakistani flag and taken to the grave, while the funeral prayer and the national flag were performed in absentia in the National Assembly.
It should be noted that Syed Ali Geelani was a strong supporter of the illegal occupation of India and the annexation of Kashmir to Pakistan. Throughout his life, he raised his voice against the atrocities of the usurping Indian army, violations of human rights and the freedom movement.
He wrote 21 works including Rudad-e-Qafs, Navaya Hurriyat, India’s Colonial Harbe, while he was also the author of Saday Dard, Millat Mazloum, Sue Haq and Payam Lakhin.
The government of Pakistan awarded Syed Ali Geelani the highest civilian award Nishan-e-Pakistan in recognition of his valuable services in the freedom movement.