Srinagar, Feb 27 (KNO): Dr Ghulam Sibtain Masoodi, renowned social figure, physician, father-in-law of Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, and also the brother of former Member Parliament from South Kashmir and senior NC leader Justice (R) Hasnain Masoodi passed away here on Wednesday night.
He was laid to rest at his ancestral graveyard at Khrew, Pampore on Thursday afternoon.
Dr Masoodi’s demise was widely condoled by political leaders, prominent religious scholars and civil society members.
NC president Farooq Abdullah, chief minister Omar Abdullah, former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti, and other political leaders including Sajad Lone, Tanvir Sadiq, Salman Sagar, Altaf Bukhari, and Muzaffar Shah expressed their condolences and sympathies with the bereaved family.
JKNC president Dr. Farooq Abdullah, accompanied by party chief spokesperson Tanvir Sadiq, also participated in the funeral prayers of Dr Masoodi.
Jammu & Kashmir Grand Mufti, Mufti Nasir-ul-Islam, extended his condolences and prayers for the departed soul.
Despite the inclement weather, people gathered in large numbers to attend the funeral prayers of Dr Masoodi and then later offered condolences with the family and Mirwaiz Kashmir Dr. Moulvi Muhammad Umar Farooq.
The Jammu and Kashmir Awami Action Committee (AAC), as per a statement issued to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), expressed profound grief over Dr. Masoodi's demise and paid rich tribute to his social and humanitarian contributions.
The organization extended condolences and solidarity to Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and the bereaved Masoodi family. Special condolences were also conveyed to Dr. Masoodi’s sons, Murtaza Masoodi and Yahya Masoodi, his brothers, Syedain Masoodi, Hasnain Masoodi, and Saqlain Masoodi, as well as his son-in-law, Ayub Afzal Khan.
The AAC, as per the statement, strongly denounced the restrictions imposed by the authorities on offering funeral prayers at Srinagar’s historic Jama Masjid.
The organization termed the act unjustified and contrary to human values.
Despite these restrictions, the funeral prayers were later held at Barzulla, led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, and attended by a large gathering, including religious, political, and social leaders. Dr. Masoodi was subsequently laid to rest at his ancestral graveyard at Khrew, Pampore, the AAC statement said.
Earlier in the day, JKNC termed the decision of not allowing the funeral prayers of Dr. Sibtain Masoodi at Jama Masjid, Srinagar, as deeply regrettable and wrong.
JKNC on their official social media handle—X wrote, "The decision to disallow the Namaz-e-Janazah of Dr. Sibtain Masoodi at Jama Masjid, Srinagar is deeply regrettable and wrong. Such actions are not only regressive but also demonstrate the hollowness of claims of normalcy in the region. It is precisely these kinds of steps that reveal the lack of trust the authorities have in their own assertions of peace and stability. The police, in their short-sighted approach, fail to realize that restricting such basic rights only further erodes the trust and goodwill of the people.”—(KNO)