Pakistan on Thursday condemned India’s act of snatching Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Geelani’s body ahead of his funeral.
According to Foreign Office (FO) spokesperson Asim Iftikhar, “The Indian government is fearful of Syed Ali Geelani even after his demise.”
“It is reflective of the rage, tyranny, and barbarianism of the Indian occupation forces,” he remarked.
Iftikhar in a statement said that as the family was preparing for the last rites of Syed Geelani, a group of the occupation forces raided his residence in Srinagar, harassed family members, and snatched Syed Geelani’s body.
“When the family members told the raiding party that Syed Geelani’s will was to be buried in the ‘Cemetery of Martyrs’ in Srinagar, they were reportedly told that India would not allow Syed Geelani’s burial at the place of his choosing,” he said.
“India has been violating all civil and human rights norms in the occupied valley,” maintained Iftikhar.
Indian media subsequently reported the burial of the Hurriyat leader. A curfew has been imposed in the valley and all internet services have been suspended.
Syed Ali Geelani’s son told AP that the family had planned the burial at the main Martyrs’ Graveyard in Srinagar as per his will but were disallowed by the police.
“They snatched his body and forcibly buried him. Nobody from the family was present for his burial. We tried to resist but they overpowered us and even scuffled with women,” said his son Naseem Geelani.
Geelani was the former head of All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) but quit politics last year in June. Geelani passed away at his home in Srinagar after a prolonged illness.