Geelani to be awarded ‘Nishan-e-Pakistan’, his life story to be taught in Pak schools

Srinagar: The Pakistan senate Monday passed a resolution asking its government to confer the country’s highest civilian honour, ‘Nishan-e-Pakistan’ to aging Kashmiri separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani.

The developments comes a month after Geelani stepped down from his post as ‘chairman for life’ of All Parties Hurriyat Conference.

The country’s upper house of parliament has unanimously passed a resolution lauding the “relentless” struggle of Geelani.

The Pakistan Senate also asked the government to name a proposed university in Islamabad after the 90-year-old Geelani, who has been under house arrest for several years.

The resolution was moved by Jamat-e Islami senator Mushtaq Ahmed and passed unanimously with a voice vote.

The resolution, adopted unanimously, demanded that the story of his life be included in the school curriculum at the national and provincial levels. It resolved to hold a sitting of the Senate at Muzaffarabad.

“Include the life and struggle of Syed Ali Shah Geelani in the educational curriculum at federal and provincial level and mobilise world conscience to help Gilani get best available treatment at a place of his choice,” the resolution as per media reports read.

Nishan-e-Pakistan is conferred by the president of Pakistan in a glittering ceremony in Islamabad.

Previous recipients of the prestigious award include Queen Elizabeth II, Nelson Mandela and Fidel Castro.