Kashmiri freedom leader Prof Abdul Ghani Butt passes away at 90

Renowned Kashmiri freedom leader and former chairman of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC), Professor Abdul Ghani Butt, passed away on Wednesday evening in Botingo, Sopore, in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). He was 90 years old and had been suffering from a brief illness.

Professor Butt, who also headed the Muslim Conference in IIOJK during his political career, was a prominent figure in the Kashmiri struggle for freedom. An accomplished academic, he held degrees in Persian, Economics, Political Science, and Law. He completed his master's in Persian and law from Aligarh Muslim University and taught Persian until he was dismissed by the Indian authorities for his pro-freedom views.

In reaction to his passing, President Asif Ali Zardari and Acting President Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani expressed their deep sorrow. Both leaders praised Professor Butt’s lifelong commitment to the Kashmiri cause and extended their condolences to his family. They prayed for peace for his soul and strength for his bereaved loved ones.