Geelani too ill to ‘comprehend’ Pakistan honour, says kin

SRINAGAR: Kashmiri separatist and former Hurriyat chief Syed Ali Geelani is so unwell that he can no longer "comprehend things" such as what it means to be conferred Pakistan's highest civilian honour, his Turkey-based granddaughter has said.
The statement by Ruwa Shah, a former Saudi Airlines flight attendant, coincided with a press release purportedly issued by Geelani's office last Monday, saying he had "rejected" the award.
The release was immediately disputed, with many of Geelani's supporters terming it "fake" and part of a conspiracy to discredit the Valley's most prominent pro-Pakistan hardliner for decades. While there was no response to the allegation from either Geelani's office or the Hurriyat, his granddaughter took to Twitter the same day to convey the message that he was not in a condition to express his own feelings.
"Many of you have wanted to extend your congratulatory messages to Geelani Sb for being honoured with the award. I wish Geelani Sb was in good health and could understand your wishes and gestures. He is not in the health to comprehend things. We are aware this award is a recognition for his contribution to the Kashmiri Tehreek," Ruwa, whose mother is Geelani’s eldest daughter, tweeted.
Several separatists on either side of the LoC have criticised Pakistan for conferring the "Nishan-e-Pakistan" on Geelani, who is being officially referred to in that country as the "second Indian recipient of the award" after former PM Morarji Desai in 1990.
A social media user identifying himself as Shabir Dar posted, "He (Geelani) didn’t reject the award, he is rejecting the rejected people who shamelessly received his award."
According to Hurriyat insiders, Geelani’s son had authorised Pakistan-based Abdullah Geelani to receive the award on behalf of his father on August 14. As it turned out, Abdullah, whom Geelani had nominated as his successor in POK while quitting as Hurriyat chief in June, wasn't invited to the prize distribution ceremony. Abdullah is the younger brother of the late SAR Geelani, the former DU professor who was first convicted and then acquitted in the 2001 Parliament attack case.