PM Shehbaz Sharif remembers Syed Ali Gilani as symbol of Kashmir freedom

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday said that the late Syed Ali Gilani was a symbol of Kashmir freedom and commented that Gilani was not merely an individual but rather a movement and a mission with the slogan of ‘Kashmir to become Pakistan.

The prime minister, in his message on the first death anniversary of the great Kashmir leader, said that the struggle of Syed Ali Gilani was a golden chapter in the history of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference as well as the Kashmir freedom movement.

Syed Ali Geelani personified the very essence of Kashmiris' struggle. Frail in body but firm in resolve, he powered the resistance movement with belief in the idea of freedom from Indian yoke. Geelani sahib remains as relevant to the freedom struggle today as he was in life.

— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) September 1, 2022

He said: “Title of “Baba-e-Hurriyat” (father of freedom movement) by the Kashmiris was in fact the recognition of his historic struggle.”

Shehbaz Sharif said that by snatching the mortal remains of late Ali Gilani, India could not take away the Kashmiris’ passion for freedom.

“The people of Pakistan and Kashmir salute Syed Ali Gilani. His slogan “We are Pakistani and Pakistan is ours” still echoes across the world,” he further added.

The prime minister also prayed for high ranks in paradise for Syed Ali Gilani and martyrs of Kashmir, and strength for their respective families to bear the loss with fortitude. 

Pakistan Army pays tribute to Syed Ali Gillani 

Pakistan Army ISPR in a statment issued said that Pakistani nation pays tribute to brave Syed Ali Shah Geelani four epic resistance and fight against the worst Indian oppression/atrocities in IIOJK. His lifelong struggle for the right to self-determination as per the aspirations of ppl of Kashmir & UN resolutions shall always inspire generations to come.  

Pak nation pays tribute 2 brave Syed Ali Shah Geelani 4 epic resistance & fight against worst Indian oppression/atrocities in IIOJK. His lifelong struggle 4 right to self determination as per aspirations of ppl of Kashmir & UN resolutions shall always inspire generations to come.

— DG ISPR (@OfficialDGISPR) September 1, 2022

Last year, Geelani’s death at the age of 92 heightened tensions in the occupied territory after authorities refused to let him have a public funeral.

Pakistan then summoned Indian Charge d’ Affaires to the Foreign Office and conveyed a strong demarche on Indian occupation forces’ “callous and inhuman” handling of the mortal remains of the iconic Kashmiri leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani.

“It was conveyed that the Indian occupation forces’ shameless act of snatching the body of Syed Ali Shah Geelani from his family and disallowing his burial according to his will, was in blatant violation of International Humanitarian Law and all tenets of civil and human rights,” the FO spokesperson said in a statement.