Srinagar: Veteran National Conference leader and former minister Dr. Sheikh Mustafa Kamal died at a private hospital here on Tuesday following prolonged illness, his family said. He was 83.
Kamal, the younger brother of National Conference (NC) patron Farooq Abdullah and uncle of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, was additional general secretary of the party.
With his demise, an end if NC’s original politics has ended.
Before joining politics, Kamal earned his MBBS degree from the Sawai Mansingh Medical College in Jaipur, Rajasthan, in 1962.
Tributes poured in from across the political spectrum as news of his demise spread.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, while announcing the death of Kamal on X, said “Uncle Mustafa had been unwell for some months but took a turn for the worse 4 days ago. He put up a brave fight holding on against the odds. The doctors and staff treating him were amazing but Allah called him for his final journey. May Allah grant uncle Mustafa the highest place in Jannat.”
Mirwaiz Umer Farooq expressed his condolences to Abdullah family and said that he was “saddened to hear about the death of veteran politician Mustafa Kamal Sahib”.
In a statement, the NC described Kamal’s passing as an “irreparable loss” to both the party and the region, saying that he devoted decades to strengthening the ideals and legacy of the party.
“His unwavering commitment, principled leadership, and steadfast dedication to the people of Jammu & Kashmir earned him immense respect across political and social spheres,” the statement said.
The Chief Minister’s Office also expressed heartfelt condolences on the passing of Dr Mustafa Kamal, the son of former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah.
The officers and staff of the Chief Minister’s Office expressed profound grief over the demise of Dr Kamal and conveyed their deepest sympathies to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and the entire bereaved family.
They prayed for eternal peace to the departed soul and wished strength and fortitude to the family to bear this irreparable loss.
Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) chief and former CM Ghulam Nabi Azad also condoled the death, remembering Kamal as a “seasoned political leader who served Jammu and Kashmir with commitment and dedication over several decades”.
Apni Party president Altaf Bukhari paid tributes to Kamal’s political conduct, stating he will always be remembered as “one of the most graceful politicians”, and extended his deepest condolences to the Abdullah family.
“He was a distinguished leader, and his passing is a great loss. May Almighty Allah grant him eternal peace, and bless him with the highest place in Jannah. My deepest condolences to Dr Farooq Abdullah Sahib, Omar Abdullah Sahib, and the other members of the family. May Almighty Allah grant them strength and patience to bear this irreparable loss,” Bukhari said.
CPM leader Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami also condoled the death of Kamal, saying his humbleness and approachable nature made him a friend to everyone across the political spectrum.
He breathed his last at a private hospital in Srinagar and was laid to rest at Bominsar graveyard in Sonwar Srinagar.
Being son of Sher-i-Kashmir Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah and brother of then CM, Dr. Farooq Abdullah, Kamal simply concentrated on his professional responsibilities at Tangmarg where he was posted as a physician.
A medical doctor by training, Sheikh Mustafa Kamal was the younger son of NC founder Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah and Begum Akbar Jehan. He was the younger brother of NC president and former chief minister Dr Farooq Abdullah and the uncle of incumbent Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.
Once dragged into politics, unwillingly, Kamal reluctantly agreed to contest 1987 Assembly elections as incumbent NC MLA, Ghulam Hassan Mir had sided with G M Shah during a Congress operation of dethroning Farooq Abdullah. Shah was backed by New Delhi.
Kamal contested 1987 elections, did very good, defeated Mir and joined J&K Legislative Assembly. Was made a minister.
He did a lot of developmental works in his Gulmarg constituency. In between militancy erupted and there were no elections till 1996. He again decided to contest and won. Again, he did a lot for his people.
Though Gulmarg was his maternal assembly constituency, he won elections from Pattan and Hazratbal too when he lost it in Gulmarg in respective elections.
During his political career, he served as a Cabinet minister in successive National Conference governments holding key portfolios in the state administration. He also emerged as one of the party’s principal organisational leaders and, in later years, served as the Additional General Secretary of the National Conference, remaining active in party affairs even after leaving electoral politics.
Staunch believer and supporter of JKNC’s original manifesto of Naya Kashmir, Dr Kamal always stood for restoration of complete autonomy for J&K even at the cost of making his party colleagues uncomfortable.
Sheikh Mustafa Kamal didn’t marry and thus is survived by his brother Dr Farooq Abdullah, his sisters Khalida Shah and Suraya Mattoo, his nephew CM Omar Abdullah and others.
LG expresses grief over the demise of Dr Mustafa Kamal
Lt. Governor, Manoj Sinha has expressed grief over the demise of Dr Mustafa Kamal, the younger brother on JK National Conference President, Dr Farooq Abdullah and uncle of incumbent Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah.
In a post on X, formerly twitter, the LG said he was deeply saddened by the passing of the veteran leader and extended his heartfelt condolences to his family, well-wishers and admirers. “I am deeply saddened by the news of veteran leader Dr. Mustafa Kamal’s passing away. I extend my heartfelt condolences to his family, well-wishers, and admirers. Om Shanti!” he said.
