People in large numbers gathered in Bijbehara town of South Kashmir on Sunday to offer congregational prayers (Fateha) on the Chaharum of former Chief Minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed who breathed his last in New Delhi on January 7.
Early this morning, people—including Peoples Democratic Party supporters, political leaders from different parties and officials from state administration and police—arrived at Dara Shikov Park in the South Kashmir town to participate in the congregational prayers for Sayeed who was laid to rest in the Park where he started his political career to rise to the position of first Muslim Union Home Minister and two-time Chief Minister of J&K.
Emotional scenes were witnessed at the graveyard as PDP President Mehbooba Mufti—along with her mother, sisters and brother—broke down at her father’s grave.
The congregational prayers were led by Maulana Zia-ul-Haq and attended by a large number of mourners who expressed their solidarity with the bereaved family members, particularly Mehbooba Mufti and her mother.
Also present were former Deputy Chief Minister and senior BJP leader Nirmal Singh, ex-ministers, legislators from different political parties, senior PDP leaders and functionaries and top officers of the state government including Chief Secretary, BR Sharma, Financial Commissioner, BB Vyas and Director General of Police, K Rajendra Kumar.
After the ‘Fateha’, Mehbooba along with her brother, walked up to the podium and waved towards people who responded with the slogan: “Jab Tak Sooraj Chand Rahega, Mufti Tera Naam Rahega”, an official spokesman said in a statement.
PDP youth leader ArifLaigaroo said, “Many youth like me have lost a mentor. Mufti Sahib wanted youth to shine.”
Subsequently thousands of people participated in a condolence meeting held at Fairview residence of Muftis on Gupkar Road here. People from different walks of life—politicians, VIPs and businessmen—thronged the residence to offer their condolences with the bereaved.
“Mufti Sahab was a visionary leader. He cared for us like a father,” said Ghulam Muhammad, who had travelled from Islamabad (Anantnag) to offer his condolences to the bereaved family.
The rush of politicians from different parties continued at the Gupkar residence throughout the day.
On the occasion, several people including PDP leaders spoke and highlighted the contribution of Sayeed in socio-economic development of Jammu and Kashmir.
“Till his last breath, Mufti sahab worked for the betterment of people. Despite his age he would work for most part of the day and took review meetings to ensure timely completion of development projects that our government had taken up,” said senior PDP leader, Naeem Akther, addressing a condolence meeting in Srinagar. Congress president Sonia Gandhi and BJP leader Nitin Gadkari were among prominent political figures who offered their condolences with Mehbooba Mufti at her residence here. Commander of Army’s 15 Corps, Lt Gen SK Dua, also visited the residence to offer his condolences.
Peoples Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti broke down at the graveyard of her father Mufti Muhammad Sayeed here on Saturday—the fourth day of mourning over his demise.
At Sayeed’s graveyard at Dara-Shikoh Park here, Mehbooba suddenly broke down, with her mother Begum Gulshan and two younger sisters Rubiya and Mehmooda, and bother Tasaduq, trying to console her.
Clad in black ‘pheran’ (traditional Kashmiri cloak), Mehbooba led the bereaved family members towards Sayeed’s graveyard at around 11 am. She sat besides the grave of her father and wept alongside her mother. Begum Mufti’s brother and senior PDP leader Sartaj Madni tried to calm them. Later Mehbooba along with other family members raised their hands as local religious leader Zia-ul-Haq Nizami led the congregational prayers for late Sayeed—held on the fourth day of mourning—and prayed for peace to the departed soul.
Senior Peoples Democratic Party leaders Muzaffar Hussain Baig, Naeem Akhtar, Haseeb Drabu, Altaf Bukhari, Abdur Rehman Veeri, Abdul Haq Khan and others, participated in the prayers. PDP MP Tariq Hamid Karra and BJP leader Nirmal Singh were also present.
National Conference leaders including Bashir Ahmad Veeray, Altaf Ahmad Kaloo, Abdul Majid Larmi and Iftikhar Hussain Misgar also joined the prayers.
Senior functionaries and top officers of J&K including Chief Secretary B R Sharma, Financial Commissioner B B Vyas and Director General of Police, K Rajendra Kumar were also present.
Since early morning, people in large numbers from different parts of J&K participated in the ‘fateha’ prayers at Dara Shikov Park and expressed solidarity with the bereaved family.
Mehbooba later accepted condolences from people and party workers, and waved to them from the podium before leaving for Srinagar.
Mufti, who passed away at AIIMS New Delhi on January 7, was laid to rest at Dara Shikov Park here where he started his political career and used to organize workers’ meetings during his days with the Democratic National Conference and Congress.
