Senior journalists and analysts paid tribute to the senior-most Kashmiri leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani for his lifelong fight for freedom.
During 24NewsHD programme – DNA – Salim Bokhari, PJ Mir, Iftikhar Ahmed and Javed Iqbal came down hard on India for barring the people from attending the funeral of their leader in occupied Kashmir.
Iftikhar Ahmed said Delhi went for deploying more troops as soon as they got to know that Geelani breathed his last and rushed to complete burial at the earliest. He was a leader like Nelson Mandela and Fidel Castro, Iftikhar Ahmed said.
He said Indian authorities were afraid of his passion and dedication for the cause and the so-called democratic state has been exposed to the world after the burial of Geelani.
Salim Bokhari talked about the confinement Geelani was put in by Indian authorities. He said the 92-year-old legend spent every third day in detention and all the regimes in India knew about the love Geelani had for Pakistan.
The body of the Kashmiri leader was wrapped in the Pakistani national flag during burial, Salim Bokhari recalled. PJ Mir said India will pay the price for this fresh act of barbarism.
Reports said the family of Geelani was subjected to torture by Indian forces who snatched the body for burial.
A few relatives and neighbours were allowed to attend the funeral. The bereaved family chanted slogans in favour of independence and Pakistan.
Shedding light on the political life of former Balochistan CM Attaullah Mengal was too part of the programme. Iftikhar Ahmed said Mengal's services are unforgettable. His name will be written in golden words.
Salim Bokhari said Megal was a patriot and seasoned politician. PJ Mir talked about the hardship the former CM faced, including exile and jail.
Regarding PM Imran Khan's criticism of previous governments while opening schemes, Salim Bokhari said the premier know about the fruit of last government's scheme, but he never praised those projects.
Javed questioned as to why politicians claim credit when they launch schemes through taxpayers' money.