Srinagar, Dec 09: Anjuman Auqaf Jama Masjid Srinagar has expressed adnuish over the fact that the minbar-o-mihrab (pulpit) of the largest and historical place of worship in Kashmir–the Central Jama Masjid Srinagar –have been silent for the past three and a half years because its chief and Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir Dr Moulvi Muhammad Umar Farooq due to his more than three years long detention is neither able to perform the important religious obligation like Friday prayers nor is able to deliver sermons for which lakhs of Muslims and his followers are eagerly waiting.
A statement issued to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said that for the last 172 Fridays, Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir, who is also the topmost religious leader of Jammu and Kashmir, has been facing the government restrictions and curbs with great courage and determination.
“In the absence of Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir, a large number of people who come from cities and towns to listen to his Friday sermons at the central Jama Masjid Srinagar are returning deeply disappointed, which is extremely unfortunate and shameful in every respect.”
The statement severely criticized the administration for its dictatorial attitude and prolonging the undue curbs on Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir and said the 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?
Meanwhile, Anjuman expressed deep grief over the demise of longtime well-wishers of the Mirwaiz Family. These 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.
Anjuman expressed condolences with both bereaved families on behalf of the organisation and its incarcerated Chairman Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir Dr Moulvi Muhammad Umar Farooq expressed condolences with the bereaved families including Muhammad Ashraf Mir, Jalaluddin Reshi and Zaffarullah Zargar, the son of the late Ghulam Rasool Zargar. It also prayed for Jannat-ul-Firdous to the departed souls.
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-e-Kashmir to them, besides offering Fateha prayers for the elevation of ranks in Jannah for the departed souls—(KNO)
