Monitor News Bureau
SRINAGAR: Seemingly pained by the vicious campaign against the ailing Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani, his family has urged people not to drag them into political controversy and give them space to attend him in a better manner.
In a joint statement, Geelani’s sons, Dr. Nayeem Geelani and Dr. Naseem Geelani, and son in law Zahoor ul Haq Geelani said past few months have been very hard for the ailing leader and his family.
“On the one hand, we are busy dealing with his health condition. On the other hand, continuously dragging the family into his political affairs has taken a heavy toll on our personal as well as domestic life,” they said.
The trio noted that it is unfortunate that people with vested interests have launched a vicious campaign to malign the stature of Geelani.
“Repeated and fabricated letters in his name, posts, comments, and imaginary stories are disturbing him and affecting his health very badly. The unnecessary social media campaigns and hounding of the family only add to our already stressful life,” they said.
The trio said Geelani is in advanced age suffering from multiple ailments. “He needs round the clock medical as well as personal attention. Throughout his life, he faced hardships, both physically and mentally, for his beliefs and convection. It is time to give him some amount of relaxation and his family, a space to attend him in a better position at this critical juncture. The health condition of Geelani demands family to be careful, focused, and attentive, more so amid the pandemic,” they said.
The family noted that Geelani is a public and political figure and everyone reserves a right to be concerned about his personal as well as political status.
“The prime responsibility of his close family is to attend him. We will keep the people updated regarding his health and his representative, Abdullah Gilani, will respond and react to his political issues,” they said.
The trio urged media fraternity not to circulate any information about his health or any communication of political nature on his behalf without his representative’s authentication. “We humbly request and appeal people to pray for the speedy recovery and long life of Geelani,” they said.
