Registering cases against Syed Geelani’s family show India’s descent into fascism: PM

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan has slammed Indian authorities for registering cases against the family of Kashmiri resistance leader Syed Ali Geelani.

In a statement, the prime minister said “snatching the body” of Syed Ali Geelani and registering cases against his family is “just another shameful example of India’s descent into fascism under the Nazi-inspired RSS-BJP govt.”

“Snatching the body of the 92 year old Syed Ali Geelani, one of the most respected & principled Kashmiri ldrs, & then registering cases against his family is just another shameful example of India’s descent into fascism under the Nazi-inspired RSS-BJP govt,” he said.

Raising pro-independence slogans

Police in India-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IOJ&K) registered a case against the family of recently deceased veteran Kashmiri leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani for raising pro-independence slogans.

According to several media reports, the case has been registered at the Budgam police station for “raising pro-independence slogans”. Moreover, it was reported that the case has also been registered in view of the fact that Geelani’s body was wrapped in the green and white flag of Pakistan prior to his burial.

The bereaved family chanted slogans in favour of independence and Pakistan as his body was taken away. They were tortured and locked in a room by Indian forces, according to media reports.

Pakistan summons Indian envoy

Geelani passed away on Wednesday in the Indian-occupied Kashmir city of Srinagar after a prolonged illness aged 92. He was an uncompromising campaigner against Indian rule and had been under house arrest for the past 11 years. He had been ill for several months and suffering from multiple ailments and the continued house arrest had taken a heavy toll on his health.

Pakistan summoned Indian Charge d’ Affaires to condemn India’s inhuman handling of veteran Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani’s body from his family and disallowing his burial to be held in accordance with his will.

In a statement, the Foreign Office said, “The Indian envoy was summoned to the Foreign Office and conveyed Pakistan’s strong demarche on Indian Occupation Forces’ callous and inhuman handling of the mortal remains of the iconic Kashmiri leader and freedom fighter Syed Ali Shah Geelani.”

It was conveyed that the Indian Occupation Forces’ “shameless act of snatching” the body of Syed Ali Shah Geelani from his family, was in “blatant violation” of International Humanitarian Law and all tenets of civil and human rights.

The foreign office noted that authorities in Indian-occupied Kashmir (IoK) had repeatedly “resorted to indiscriminate use of force against Kashmiris protesting the forces’ inhuman conduct”.