Srinagar, Dec 9 (KNS): Anjuman Auqaf Jama Masjid on Friday demanded the release of its chief and Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir Dr Moulvi Umer Farooq and expressed sadness and disappointment that the pulpit of the Central Jama Masjid Srinagar has been silent for the past three-and-a-half years because of his house detention.
In a statement, issued to Kashmir News Service (KNS), a spokesperson said that for the last 172 Fridays, Mirwaiz, who is also the topmost religious leader of Jammu and Kashmir, has been facing the government restrictions and curbs with great courage and determination.
The statement reads in his absence, a large number of people who come from towns and villages to listen to his Friday sermons at the central Jama Masjid return deeply disappointed.
”People are deeply concerned and fail to understand how long will the interference in religious matters and restrictions on their leader's personal freedom continue,” it reads.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
Meanwhile, the Anjuman expressed grief over the demise of longtime well-wishers of the Mirwaiz Family who include Abdul Ahad Mir, the elder brother of Nowshehra constituency president Muhammad Ashraf Mir and Khwaja Ghulam Rasool Zargar of Umar Colony Lal Bazar, who is the brother-in-law of Jalaluddin Reshi.
On behalf of the organisation and Mirwaiz, Anjuman expressed condolences with the bereaved families including Muhammad Ashraf Mir, Jalaluddin Reshi and Zaffarullah Zargar, son of the late Ghulam Rasool Zargar.
The statement added a delegation comprising Moulana M S Rehman Shams, Ghulam Jeelani, Haji Bashir Ahmad, Muhammad Aafaaq and others visited the bereaved families and conveyed the condolence message of Mirwaiz, besides offering Fateha prayers. (KNS)