SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir National Conference Party President, Member of Parliament from Srinagar Dr Farooq Abdullah, and Vice President Omar Abdullah on Friday expressed shock and grief over the sudden demise of Party’s Senior Provincial Vice President Dr Syed Muhammad Shafi.
Party President while expressing condolences over the sudden demise of Dr Shafi termed him as party’s true soldier, who had unyielding faith in the ideals of Sher-e-Kashmir Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah. “I am shocked by his passing away; he has gone too soon. A gem of a person, a committed political activist, an ace speaker, a pious person grounded in values of humanity. His passing away has created a void that will be impossible to fill for years. Such self-sacrificing persons are uncommon in contemporary politics. I pray to Almighty to grant his departed soul highest echelons in Jannah. I express my solidarity with the bereaved family, friends and followers of his. I share their grief,” he said.
Party Vice President Omar Abdullah in his condolence message expressed deep shock and anguish over the sudden of Dr Syed Muhammad Shafi terming him a quintessential politician who always put party first. “Started the day with the terrible news about the sudden passing away of Dr Shafi. My association with him dates back to 1998 in our YNC days. He was a sincere grassroots worker of the party, and he will be sorely missed in the party. He held the party flag high in the most trying times undaunted by the waves of turbulence. I pray to Almighty to grant his departed soul highest stations in Jannah, patience and strength to his son Saba Shafi and the family to bear the inconsolable loss. I express my unison with the grief-stricken followers, friends and family members of his,” he said.
Party’s General Secretary Haji Ali Muhammad Sagar while paying tributes to Dr Shafi said, “In his passing away I have lost great party colleague & a friend with whom I have worked since 1975. Tirelessly worked for a party with all his sincerity & dedication, he always worked for downtrodden & weaker sections. His love and passion to work for people of South Kashmir will remain unmatchable. May Almighty accord him highest places in Jannah and give strength to his family to bear the inconsolable loss.”
Party’s provincial president Nasir Aslam Wani in his condolence message said, “I am shocked at the sudden demise of my friend and colleague, Dr Shafi. Our association dates back to our YNC days. He was the Vice President when Omar Abdullah headed J&K YNC. Since then we have seen all the ups and downs of State politics together. May Allah grant him the highest place in Jannah and give much-needed strength to his son Saba Shafi and the family.”
Among others Additional General Secretary Dr. Sheikh Mustafa Kamal, chief spokesperson Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi, Members of Parliament Muhammad Akbar Lone, and Hasnain Masoodi, Senior leaders Muhammad Shafi Uri, Abdul Rahim Rather, Chowdhary Mohammad Ramzan, Mubarak Gul, Sakina Itoo, Mian Altaf Ahmed, Shameema Firdous, Sharief Ud Din Shariq, Devendra Singh Rana, Shammi Oberoi, GA Shah, Mir Saifullah, Muhammad Syed Akhoon, Dr Bashir Ahmed Veeri, Ali Muhammad Dar, Dr Sajad Shafi Uri, GQ Pardesi, Ghulam Mohi Ud Din Mir, Abdul Majeed Bhat Larmi, Sheikh Ishfaq Jabbar, Altaf Ahmed Kaloo, Javed Dar, Syed Basharat Bukhari, Irfan Ahmed Shah, Showkat Hussain, Peer Afaq, Showkat Mir, Kafil ur Rahman, Tanvir Sadiq, Salman Ali Sagar, Imran Nabi Dar, Sarah Hayat Shah, Reyaz Khan, Ghulam Nabi Adigami, Er. Sabiya Qadri, Ahsan Pardesi, Younis Mubarak Gul, Dr Sameer Koul, Khalid Najeeb Suharwardhy, Sajad Ahmed Kitchloo, Aijaz Jan, Qamar Ali Akhoon, Sajad Shaheen, Muhammad Khalil Band, Pir Muhammad Syed, Dr GN Bhat, Sheikh Rafi, Syed Tauqeer, Mushtaq Guroo, Shabir Kullay, GH Rahi, Salam Ud Din Bajad, Shafkat Watali, J S Azad, G M Mir Saqi, Mudassar Shahmiri, Haji-Sheikh Bashir Ahmed, GN Bhat, Syed Rafiq Shah, Irshad Kar, Hanifa Jan have also condoled the demise of Shafi Sahab, prayed for strength to the bereaved family and eternal peace to the departed soul.
Meanwhile, party’s Parent body, YNC, women’s wing, legal and minority wing functionaries have also expressed grief over the demise of Shafi Sahab, praying for eternal peace to his soul in the celestial gardens. The party functionaries from party’s Chenab valley unit, Pir Panchal Unit, Kargil unit have also expressed unison with the bereaved family of the deceased leader.
Dr Shafi was laid to rest at his ancestral graveyard in Khiram Sirhama, Bijbehara, said the NC spokesman.
