Srinagar: Ruling National Conference and opposition Peoples Democratic Party on Thursday criticised police for not allowing funeral prayers of the father-in-law of Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq at the Jama Masjid in the old city.
The authorities sealed the mosque by erecting barricades outside. Security personnel were also deployed.
Police refused to comment on the matter.
Mirwaiz’s father-in-law Ghulam Sibtain Masoodi (80) died here on Wednesday after prolonged illness.
“The decision to disallow the Namaz-e-Janazah of Dr Sibtain Masoodi at Jama Masjid, Srinagar is deeply regrettable and wrong. Such actions are not only regressive but also demonstrate the hollowness of claims of normalcy in the region,” the National Conference said in a statement posted on X.
“It is precisely these kinds of steps that reveal the lack of trust the authorities have in their own assertions of peace and stability. The police in their short-sighted approach fail to realise that restricting such basic rights only further erodes the trust and goodwill of the people,” it said.
While the NC is the ruling party, the control of police lies with the Lieutenant Governor of the union territory.
PDP leader Iltija Mufti said it was “cruel” on the part of the authorities to bar the funeral prayers of Masoodi in the old city.
“Unfathomable & cruel that authorities have barred the Namaz-e-Janazah of Mirwaiz sahab’s father in law Dr Ghulam Sibtain Masoodi Sahab at Jama Masjid today. One assumed that after an elected government there’d be some relief but instead they are complicit by their silence which has emboldened GOIs iron fisted policy of repression,” she posted on X.
“It is to inform that once again the authorities have sealed the gates of Jama Masjid, Srinagar and cordoned its surroundings and informed that the Namaz-e-Jinazah of Dr Ghulam Sibtain Masoodi, will not be allowed at Jama Masjid,” the office of Mirwaiz said in a statement.
“Mirwaiz Manzil strongly condemns the authorities for use and display of force and power even in moments of grief and religious rituals,” it added.
