Will ensure Geelani gets passport: Mehbooba
Mainstream leaders Karra, Tarigami, Yasin too support issuance of travel documents to separatist leader
Voices in support of Hurriyat Conference (G) leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani getting a passport to meet his ailing daughter in Saudi Arabia are getting stronger as the ruling Peoples Democratic Party Tuesday said it would plead the case before Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Government of India.
Several other mainstream leaders have also demanded that Geelani must be issued passport.
Talking to us, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti said that it is purely a humanitarian issue. She said PDP stand on the issue is clear that passport to Geelani must be issued at an earliest.
“MHA will take a final call on it and we will ensure that he gets passport,” Mehbooba said. “We will tell MHA that Geelani Sahib must be given passport along with his wife and son so that he could visit his ailing daughter in Saudi Arabia. His daughter must not be deprived of seeing her father.”
Mehbooba said that in year 2007, 2008 and 2011, Geelani was issued passport “but he refused to avail the facility.” She said that other separatist leaders including Muhammad Yasin Malik, Shabir Shah and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq already have passports and they have been visiting foreign countries from time to time, including Pakistan. “We are hopeful that Geelani Sahib too must be given passport at the earliest.”
Meanwhile, Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of JK Police has started the verification process of Geelani’s son and wife. The two completed biometrics on Monday at Regional Passport Office (RPO) Srinagar. “They (Geelani’s son and wife) had come to my office yesterday (Monday) and completed their formalities,” RPO Srinagar, Firdous
Iqbal, told . “Reportedly Syed Ali Shah Geelani was too supposed to come for biometrics, but he did not turn up,” Firdous Iqbal added.
Hurriyat Conference (G) spokesman Ayaz Akbar said that police did not allow Hurriyat (G) Chairman to move out of his home. “He is under house arrest and was not allowed to visit the passport office,” Akbar said. “Geelani Sahib’s wife and son visited passport office for completion of formalities.”
However, Director General of Police, K Rajendra Kumar, said that Geelani is a free man now. “This is not true. Nobody will stop Syed Ali Shah Geelani from visiting passport office,” Rajendra told . “Like his son and wife, Geelani must complete formalities for passport. He can go anytime.”
GoI should take considerate view: Karra
Senior PDP leader and Member Parliament, Tariq Hameed Karra, has urged the Government of India to issue travel documents to separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani so that he can visit his ailing daughter in Saudi Arabia.
In a statement issued today, Karra said the issuance of travel documents to Geelani should not be politicized as it is a purely human issue and needs to be addressed with empathy. “History stands witness that humanism and compassion has prevailed over stated positions in such circumstances when a father desperately wants to see his ailing daughter thousands of miles away,” he said and added that she could be anybody’s daughter.
Karra said in a democratic country like India, the issues of humanism and compassion should override all other considerations and issuance of travel documents to Geelani, at this moment, when his ailing daughter needs him the most, would be a welcome gesture. “I hope the Government of India takes a considerate view of the matter and issues requisite travel documents to Mr Geelani and his family,” Karra added.
Facilitate travel documents for Geelani: Tarigami, Yasin
Senior CPI (M) leader Muhammad Yousuf Tarigami and PDF Chairman Hakeem Muhammad Yasin Tuesday asked the state government to work for getting passport to Syed Ali Shah Geelani.
In a statement issued here, the two leaders said that the government should treat Geelani’s application for passport on humanitarian grounds and facilitate the process of issuing travel documents to him.
“Geelani’s application for travel documents does not deserve to be politicized, rather it should not be a problem, particularly at this point of time when he intends to see his daughter who is not keeping well.”
Both the leaders observed that there cannot be two different travel norms for citizens. “The government must take into consideration the fact that there are other people representing a section of dissent who have been issued travel documents and who travel outside the country without any bar. So if Geelani is desirous to travel Saudi Arabia to see his ailing daughter, he should be given passport without any hitch,” they remarked.
“We may not agree with his political point of view but denying passport to Geelani is not justified as far as seeing his ailing daughter is concerned.”
