Srinagar, August 12 (KNS) : Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir Dr. Molvi Mohammad Umar Farooq on Wednesday visited the house of Anwar Ashai to offer condolences to the bereaved family on his sad demise.
In a statement, Mirwaiz said that he was saddened by his passing away, as he had met with him many times and found him to be a concerned and committed person to public issues.
Paying tributes to him, Mirwaiz said that Ashai sb was a deeply conscious person regarding the history and politics of the jammu Kashmir and the challenges facing it.
Over time he became involved in social activism, greatly contributing in matters of education, environment, social reform and others affecting the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
Recalling his political past Mirwaiz said that his association with Kashmir’s political movement began during the plebiscite front days in 1965 as a student leader for which he was arrested and later imprisoned. Mirwaiz said that during his incarceration, Ashai sb along with Mohd.
Jaweed,Iqbal Naqishbandi, Habib Ullah Sufi and Bashir Ahmad who were also student activists and had been arrested, suffered great torture in prison but refused to become collaborators when asked to become prime witnesses in the false case against shaheed e Millat Mirwaiz Molvi Farooq, who was himself lodged in jail under stringent charges.
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Such moral conviction and courage speaks volumes about these sons of the soil, who will always be remembered and honoured by the people.
Mirwaiz said that Ashai sb belonged to the illustrious Ashai house and his father renowned educationist and political activist Khwaja Ghulam Ahmad Ashai, a pioneering figure in the educational and political awakening of Kashmiri Muslims. “Ashai sb was a close associate of Muhajir-e-Millat Mirwaiz Yousuf shah sb and played a key role in the political awakening of Kashmiri Muslims eventually leading to the formation of the Muslim Conference, Kashmir’s first major organised Muslim political platform. Ashai sb was also the man behind the establishment of the kashmir University.
Mirwaiz said that the passing away of Anwar Ashai has left a void which will not only be felt by his family and friends but it is this loss for people for whose causes such people dedicate their lives.
Mirwaiz extended his condolences to his son Zubair Ahmed Ashai, daughter and other family members, in particular Ashai, Matoo and Shahdad families. (KNS)