ISLAMABAD: Veteran Hurriyat leader and icon of Kashmir freedom movement, Syed Ali Gilani embraced martyrdom while in detention in Srinagar on September 1, 2021 at age of 92. His demise brought to end an era of valor, courage and resistance against oppression and subjugation.

Syed Ali Gilani who had already been suffering from multiple ailments, remained under house arrest from 2010 till his death. This prolonged house detention took heavy toll on his health.  On orders of Indian government in 2015, residence of veteran leader was converted into a sub-jail and order was still in vogue when he breathed his last. After converting his residence and office at Hyderpora into a sub-jail, police also restricted use of mobile and telephone services and barred communication of Hurriyat leader and other office-bearers with outside world.

Veteran leader began his political career in 1950. He remained associated with Jamaat-e-Islami Jammu and Kashmir for most part of his life but later founded his own party, Tehreek-e-Hurriyat Jammu and Kashmir. He led All Parties Hurriyat Conference and quitted pro-freedom amalgam on worsening of his health condition. Syed Ali Gilani all along his life strived for cause of freedom of Kashmir from Indian illegal occupation. He remained at forefront of Kashmiris’ struggle for right to self-determination. He always advocated resolution of Kashmir dispute in accordance with Kashmiris’ aspirations and relevant UN resolutions on issue. Syed Ali Gilani remained passionate advocate of Jammu and Kashmir’s Accession to Pakistan throughout his life. Slogan ‘Hum Pakistani Hain, Pakistan Hamara Ha’ was coined by Syed Ali Gilani. In recognition of his decades-old struggle for Kashmiris’ right to self-determination, Pakistan President Dr Arif Alvi had conferred Nishan-i-Pakistan, country’s highest civil award on Syed Ali Gilani August 14, 2020. Iconic Kashmiri Hurriyat leader and face of Kashmir resistance movement, Syed Ali Gilani, who challenged India’s hegemonic rule over Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir for decades, embraced martyrdom on September 1, 2021 after remaining in 12 years’ Indian detention in his residence in Srinagar. He was 92.

Published in The Daily National Courier, September, 01 2022

Like Business on Facebook, follow @DailyNCourier on Twitter to stay informed and join in the conversation.