Srinagar, November 26, 2018: Chairman All Parties Hurriyat Conference, Syed Ali Geelani and Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chairman, Muhammad Yasin Malik have paid rich tributes to veteran journalists – late Khawaja Sona ullah Bhat and late Sofi Gh. Mohammad on their death anniversaries.
Geelani, in a statement issued here today said that they were legends of not only the field of journalism, but were equally active and inspirational in social and political spectrum.
Recalling his journalistic services, Hurriyat chairman said that Khawaja was the founder of this profession and was respected and honoured as the legend par excellence.
He said that I used to visit his “Den” in Soura, where he lived a lonely life. He was not only a fatherly figure in journalism, but was politically also active and used to highlight and guide the present movement through its scholarly column “Khazir”, Hurriyat chairman said.
While hailing his services towards society, he said that his style and political approach was unique and distinct and he was very sympathetic and friendly towards oppressed people of state.
Haling services rendered by late Sufi Gh. Mohammad, Syed Ali Geelani said that he was very affectionate and a visionary personality and will be remembered for pleading highlighting the case of suppressed nation, saying that he played an impressive role in conveying the pain and agony of the sufferings of oppressed people of the state.
“They were personalities whose social and literary works will always be written in golden letters,” said Yasin Malik in a separate statement issued today.
JKLF chairman, who in in police custody, said that these two greats from our journalist fraternity represent a glorious page of our history and their truthfulness, fearless journalism and social works should always be remembered and cherished by the people of Jammu Kashmir.
JKLF chairman while recalling his close association with Khawaja Sahib of Daily Aftab said that for him Khawaja Sahib was like an elder whose company comforted him and infused new valor and passion in him at the time of need.
“He always wrote what he thought was right and productive for the society. He never wrote to please anybody or for getting any personal benefits,” Malik said about Khawja Sahib.
While recalling thecontributions of Sofi Ghulam Muhammad of Srinagar Times, JKLF chairman said when everyone else compromised on truth, Sofi sahib stood for it and wrote and propagated the facts.
“He was a prolific writer who had courage to stand for the truth and oppressed in worst situations,” he said.
