Sopore, Sept 20: After three days of house detention, Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir Umar Farooq was released on Saturday morning and allowed to visit the residence of senior Hurriyat leader and former Chairman, Prof. Abdul Ghani Bhat, in Botingoo Sopore, who passed away on Wednesday.
Expressing profound grief over Prof. Bhat’s demise, the Mirwaiz said it was a personal loss for him, as the late leader was “an affectionate elder, a dear friend, and a guide.” He regretted not being permitted to participate in Prof. Bhat’s funeral prayers.
“Prof. Bhat was not only a respected academic and scholar but also a visionary politician who consistently upheld dialogue and moderation as the way forward,” Mirwaiz said, adding that his passing was an “irreparable loss for the people of Jammu and Kashmir.”
At Bhat’s residence, Mirwaiz extended condolences to the bereaved family, including his sons Mudassir Ghani Bhat, Jahangir Ghani Bhat, and Burhan Ghani Bhat. A special Fatiha Khwani was held for the departed soul.
Praying for strength and patience to the family, the Mirwaiz said Prof. Bhat’s legacy as a scholar, visionary, and dreamer of peace “will continue to inspire generations to come.”
