Islamabad: The funeral in absentia for the mother of senior Hurriyat leader Altaf Ahmed Butt was held in Islamabad, attended by a large gathering of political, religious, and civil society leaders, as well as members of the Kashmiri community.
The deceased passed away on Sunday in Srinagar after a prolonged illness. Her funeral prayers were conducted at Bagh-e-Mehtab in Srinagar, while a parallel funeral in absentia took place at Police Foundation Housing Society in Islamabad.
The prayers in Islamabad were led by Ghulam Muhammad Safi, Convener of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC), who expressed deep sorrow over her loss. He highlighted her pivotal role in supporting the Kashmir freedom movement, noting that she had opened her home to freedom fighters and actively encouraged her sons, including Zafar Akbar Butt and Altaf Butt, to participate in the struggle.
Prominent attendees included Zamurrad Khan, Sardar Naseem, Abdul Rashid Turabi, AJK Assembly member Raza Ahmed Shah, and several leaders of the Hurriyat Conference. Participants also visited Altaf Butt’s residence to offer condolences and prayed for the departed soul, expressing solidarity with the bereaved family.
Other notable attendees included Member of National Assembly Malik Muhammad Abrar, Chairman of the United Jihad Council Syed Salahuddin, former APHC Convener Mahmood Ahmed Saghar, and a range of political, social, and media representatives.
Reports from Kashmir highlighted that Zafar Akbar Butt has been detained in Jammu jail for over six years. Authorities reportedly did not permit him to visit his ailing mother or attend her funeral, raising serious humanitarian concerns about the treatment of detained Kashmiri leaders.
Hurriyat leaders expressed profound grief over the demise, prayed for eternal peace for the departed soul, and extended heartfelt condolences to the family. The incident underscores the ongoing challenges faced by detained Kashmiri leaders and the denial of basic humanitarian rights.