Kashmiri separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani passes away at 91

Srinagar: Hardliner separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani passed away on Wednesday in Srinagar. 

Geelani, 91, was the founder of Tehreek-e-Hurriyat. He has served as the chairman of All Parties Hurriyat Conference, a conglomerate of pro-separatist parties in Jammu and Kashmir.

Reacting to the news, former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti extended condolences over the demise of Geelani. 

"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," Mufti tweeted.

A top separatist leader and former Hurriyat Conference (G) Chairman, Syed Ali Geelani breathed his last at his Srinagar residence on Wednesday evening.  Geelani, 92, developed serious complications on Wednesday afternoon and breathed his last in this evening.

“He had chest congestion and breathing problems. He passed away at 10:30 PM,” they said. Geelani was ailing for a long time and was under house detention since 2008 at his Hyderpora residence.

Last year, he announced his resignation as Hurriyat Conference (G) Chairman.

Syed Ali Shah Geelani, who was born on 29 September 1929, was a Kashmiri separatist leader in Jammu and Kashmir.

He was previously a member of Jamaat-e-Islami Kashmir but later on founded Tehreek-e-Hurriyat. He has served as the Chairman of All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC), a conglomerate of pro-separatist parties in Jammu and Kashmir.