A video of All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) chairman Syed Ali Geelani has recently surfaced on social media in which the leader while looking frail, can be heard mumbling Pakistan's national anthem and a few Islamic prayers.
The Kashmiri separatist Hurriyat leader is suffering from multiple ailments including an acute respiratory infection. In 2015, accusing him of inciting violence, the Indian government had placed Geelani under house arrest. However, the leader has remained a vehement campaigner for Kashmiris' freedom.
Syed Ali Shah Geelani is unwell. He may be old and frail, but his convictions are as strong as they have ever been.
"Pak Sar Zameen" owes it to him to commit itself to the Kashmir cause the way he has all his life.#FreeKashmirpic.twitter.com/j4sGqsD9A0
— Zeeshan Khan (@IbnKhayyam) February 10, 2020
Following India's decision to abrogate Article 370 from its constitution and imposing a curfew in Indian-occupied Kashmir, the APHC chairman had urged Pakistani leadership to act ‘decisively’ and warned that neither history nor the coming generations will forgive them in case of failure at this critical juncture.
He urged the people of Pakistan and their leaders in particular to come forth at this crucial timeto help the besieged people of Kashmir. He also issued a five-point programme of action. "The people of Kashmir must continue to resist through actions or words and stage peaceful protests," he wrote in an open letter.