Srinagar, Jan 6: Expressing grief over the demise of Qazi Hussain Ahmed, chairman of Hurriyat Conference (G) Syed Ali Geelani Sunday said he has applied for travel documents to visit Pakistan to extend his personal condolences to the bereaved family.
 Hurriyat (G) spokesman, Ayaz Akbar, however, made it clear that Geelani won’t be going to Pakistan with any political agenda, if he is allowed to travel.
 In a statement, Geelani said: “The news of death of Ahmad has grieved me. It is a personal loss for me and I have lost a best and an affectionate brother.”
 The Hurriyat (G) chairman said Ahmad, who after succeeding Moulana Syed Abul Ala Maududi, strived hard for the Islamic revolution in Pakistan. “I feel he was a great man of spirit with deep sincerity and affection for the whole Islamic Ummah,” he said.
 Recalling the moments spent with the deceased, Geelani said he was with Ahmed during the holy pilgrimage of Hajj. “When I met Ahmad during Hajj, he was very anxious and restless about the miserable condition of people of Jammu and Kashmir. He was very serious and committed about the Kashmir cause and has played a praiseworthy role for Kashmir resolution at international level,” Geelani said.
 Terming Ahmad’s death a “great loss” for people of J&K, Geelani said: “We have lost a great patron and a supporter.”
 Geelani said he has applied for the travel documents so that he could travel to Pakistan to offer condolence and express sympathy to the bereaved family.
 Talking to Greater Kashmir, Hurriyat (G) spokesman, Ayaz Akbar said they were in close contact with the passport office in Srinagar and a fresh application would be submitted for issuance of travel documents. “The travel documents are already lying with the passport office. Instead of repeated reminders, authorities have not issued the documents yet,” he said. The Hurriyat (G) spokesman said that it was “against all norms and moral values that a leader of high status and a respectable citizen is not allowed to travel.”
 Meanwhile, in a condolence meeting of Hurriyat (G), in which the prominent leaders participated, glowing tributes were paid to late Ahmad for his services for “Kashmir movement.” “The participants prayed for the departed soul and extended condolences to the family of the late leader. It was decided to offer the funeral prayer in absentia for the departed leader at Eidgah Barzulla on January 7,” the spokesman said. The prayers will be led by Hurriyat (G) General Secretary Muhammad Ashraf Sehrai.

Lastupdate on : Sun, 6 Jan 2013 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 6 Jan 2013 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 7 Jan 2013 00:00:00 IST