Srinagar , Appealing people to pray for early recovery and long life of ailing Syed Ali Shah Geelani, former chairman of hardline Hurriyat Conference (NC), family members on Monday demanded a space to attend him in a better way at this critical juncture.In a joint statement to press Monday afternoon, two sons of Geelani, Dr Nayeem Geelani and Dr Naseem Geelani and son in law Zahoor ul Haq Geelani in an appeal said Mr Geelani is in advanced age with multiple ailments and he needs round the clock medical as well as personal attention.
“Geelani throughout his life faced hardships, both physically and mentally, for his beliefs and conviction. His recent health condition has stressed people especially his family. Therefore, it is time to give him some amount of relaxation and his family, a space to attend him in a better position at this critical juncture. Health condition of Geelani demands family to be careful, focused and attentive, more so amid the COVID-19 pandemic, they said.
The appeal said Geelani is a public and political figure and everyone reserves a right to be concerned about his personal as well as political status. The prime responsibility of his close family is to attend him.
” We will keep the people updated regarding his health and his representative, Abdullah Gilani, will respond and react to his political issues. Past few months have been very hard for all of us. On one hand we are busy dealing with his health condition and we have been consumed physically as well as mentally. On the other hand continuously dragging the family into his political affairs has taken a heavy toll on our personal as well as domestic life”, they said.
However, they said it is unfortunate that people with vested interests have launched a vicious campaign to malign the stature of Geelani. Repeated and fabricated letters in his name, posts, comments and imaginary stories is disturbing him and affecting his health very badly. The unnecessary social media campaigns and hounding of family only adds to our already stressful life, the appeal further said.
” We urge all including those in media fraternity or otherwise not to circulate any information about his health, and similarly, any communication of political nature on his behalf without his representative’s authentication. We humbly request and appeal people to pray for speedy recovery and long life of Geelani.