SRINAGAR: Mirwaiz Ahmad Shah, a relative of Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, passed away in Islamabad, Pakistan, on Saturday after a brief illness. The news has led to widespread condolences across the Valley, with thousands of people eager to express their solidarity with the grieving family.
On Monday, National Conference President Farooq Abdullah visited Mirwaiz Umar Farooq’s residence to personally offer condolences. Abdullah’s visit, which took place around 4 pm, marked a significant moment of unity, as he extended sympathies to Mirwaiz.
However, the Mirwaiz’s plans to honour his late relative were disrupted when he was allegedly placed under house arrest by the Jammu and Kashmir administration. The Mirwaiz office said the cleric was scheduled to attend a condolence gathering at the family’s ancestral home, Mirwaiz Manzil in Rajouri Kadal, followed by a prayer in absentia (nimaz-e-jinaza) at Srinagar’s Central Jamia Masjid. In a public statement, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq expressed disappointment at the authorities’ decision to restrict him, describing it as a violation of personal freedom and an affront to the religious sentiments of those wishing to pay their respects.
Mirwaiz alleged that the administration not only restricted movement around Mirwaiz Manzil but also locked down the Central Jamia Masjid to prevent the planned absentia funeral prayer. According to officials from Anjuman Auqaf Jama Masjid, they were warned that any attempt to hold the funeral prayer could result in legal repercussions. The Mirwaiz strongly condemned these restrictions, questioning the claims of a “Naya Kashmir” as frequently asserted by the Lieutenant Governor. “These actions expose the hollowness of such claims when the basic human right to gather and condole is denied,” he stated.
Mirwaiz Ahmad Shah, who was revered as the son of Muhajir-e-Millat and Mufassir-e-Quran, Mirwaiz Yousuf Shah (RA), was laid to rest in Bahria Town, Islamabad, on Sunday. His absentia funeral prayer, planned for Monday, was initially set for 1:00 pm at Jamia Masjid Srinagar. However, amid the mounting restrictions, it remains uncertain if the gathering will proceed.
The Mirwaiz family said they will continue to receive condolences at Mirwaiz Manzil in Nigeen, though the government’s stance on public gatherings for such occasions continues to raise questions about the freedom of religious expression in the region.
