KL Report
SRINAGAR
NC stalwart Sheikh Nazir who died at the age of 84 on Tuesday morning had a soft corner for late JKLF leader Maqbool Bhat who was executed in Tihar Jail in 1984, local news agency CNS quoted Azam Inquilabi saying.
Inqalabi said Sheikh had guided and helped Maqbool Bhat to cross the border in 1978. “Maqbool Bhat had a firm trust in Sheikh Nazir. When Jammu Kashmir Police was hunting for Bhat and his space in Kashmir was shrinking, Sheikh Nazir helped him to cross the border. Sheikh Nazir not only guided Maqbool but also provided the names of persons living across border and informed him to approach them for any help,” Inqalabi said.
“Be ralistic and pragmatic. Let us accept this fact that he (Sheikh Nazir) was the son of the soil whose statements revealed that he wanted to relieve the people of Kashmir from pain and had been always urging upon India and Pakistan to resolve the long pending Kashmir problem,” Inquilabi said. “Nazir was the nephew of Sheikh Abdullah but the later always treated him like his son just because Nazir was obedient, truthful and transparent.”
Recounting the days in 1970 when he was arrested after his return from Pakistan administered Kashmir, Inaqlabi said Sheikh helped them.
“It was Sheikh Nazir who came forward to help us. Being an advocate, he voluntarily pleaded our case and did not charge a single penny from us. I along with my friend Muhammad Maqbool Ganaie, who retired as Director Excise were languishing in jail and Sheikh Nazir pleaded our case in court and ensured our freedom,” he said. “It was the pro-pakistan and pro-Kashmiri sentiment that forced Nazir to fight for our justice.”
Meanwhile Hurriyat (m) Chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq while expressing his deep condolence over the demise of known political figure and basic member of plebiscite front, Sheikh Nazir Ahmad has said that in spite of political differences with his later political stand, his personal qualities and his contribution during plebiscite movement can not be ignored
While offering his solidarity and sympathy with the family of the deceased, Mirwaiz has prayed for the departed soul.
