Funeral prayers in absentia for Professor Abdul Ghani Bhat, the veteran Kashmiri leader and former chairman of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC), echoed across Islamabad and the towns of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) on September 19, 2025. His passing just two days earlier, on September 17 in his hometown of Sopore, marked the end of an era for the Kashmiri freedom movement—a loss that many described as irreplaceable.
According to reports from Dawn and APP, the main gathering in Islamabad drew a diverse crowd: political leaders, religious figures, lawyers, journalists, and ordinary citizens from all walks of life. The Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Chaudhry Anwar-ul-Haq, was among those in attendance, joined by senior Hurriyat figures and Kashmiri leaders from both sides of the Line of Control. The prayers were led by Zahid Safi, representing Professor Bhat’s Jammu Kashmir Muslim Conference in the APHC’s Pakistan chapter.
In Muzaffarabad, the capital of AJK, two separate gatherings were held. One took place at the Manik Pehan refugee camp, attended by AJK Legislative Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Latif Akbar and Pasban-i-Hurriyat chairman Uzair Ahmed Ghazali. The other was organized in Upper Chattar under the aegis of Jamiat Ahle Hadith, with AJK Director Information Amjad Minhas representing the government. Across these gatherings, the mood was somber but resolute, as speakers paid homage to a man who had become synonymous with the Kashmiri struggle for self-determination.
Chaudhry Anwar-ul-Haq, addressing the crowd in Islamabad, described Professor Bhat as “a great freedom fighter whose passing has created an irreplaceable void.” He continued, “The deceased was not only a man of perseverance but also an academy on the history of Kashmir who will be remembered for generations.” His words reflected a sentiment shared by many: Professor Bhat’s influence went far beyond politics—he was a living archive of the Kashmiri experience, a scholar and strategist whose writings and speeches had long guided the movement.
Mehmood Ahmed Saghar, acting president of Shabbir Shah’s Democratic Freedom Party (DFP), echoed this praise. “Prof Bhat would be remembered for his unmatched services to the just cause of Kashmir,” he said, describing him as “a man of honesty and integrity whose lifelong struggle will continue to inspire coming generations of Kashmiris.”
Speakers at the Muzaffarabad gatherings were equally effusive. Chaudhry Latif Akbar called Professor Bhat “a wise statesman and broad-minded intellectual who devoted his entire life to the inalienable right of self-determination of the Kashmiri people.” He also condemned the Indian authorities for reportedly banning Bhat’s funeral in Sopore, which forced the family to bury him at night under heavy restrictions. “The occupying authorities laid siege to Sopore, placed political leaders under house arrest, and even barred participation in the funeral of an unarmed elderly leader—a dark blot on India’s so-called democracy,” Akbar remarked. He urged the international community and the United Nations to take notice of what he described as ongoing atrocities in occupied Kashmir.
Dr. Sardar Muhammad Tahir Tabassum, head of the Institute of Peace and Development (INSPAD), released a statement expressing his deep shock at Professor Bhat’s death. Calling him a “visionary, thoughtful, peace advocate whose entire life was dedicated to ideology and faith, Islamic identity, strong relations of Kashmiris with Pakistan, freedom of Kashmir and the path of self-determination,” Dr. Tabassum stressed the magnitude of the loss. “Such personalities are born in centuries and Allah Almighty has granted them a high position in Paradise,” he said, emphasizing that Professor Bhat’s long, vibrant, and effective services would always be remembered.
Dr. Tabassum also issued a stern warning to the Indian government, stating, “The ruling clique of India should know that the longer they delay for a peaceful solution to Kashmir, the more India itself will have to suffer losses and consequences.” He pointed to rising unrest in other regions such as Khalistan and Manipur, suggesting that continued repression in Kashmir would only strengthen separatist movements elsewhere. “The Kashmiri people have resolved that they will not compromise on freedom and the right to self-determination,” he declared, urging India to release all Kashmiri leaders imprisoned on what he called fake charges, restore the special status of occupied Kashmir, and halt human rights violations. He warned that any attempt to execute prominent Kashmiri leader Yasin Malik would provoke a powerful backlash: “If India attempts or conspires to execute prominent Kashmiri leader Yasin Malik, the Kashmiri people will extinguish India brick by brick across the world and an unstoppable storm will erupt in India.”
The sense of loss at Professor Bhat’s passing was palpable throughout the various gatherings. Senior Hurriyat leader Muhammad Farooq Rehmani, speaking in Islamabad, described Bhat as “a visionary thinker and seasoned politician who devoted his life to the right of self-determination of the Kashmiri people.” Rehmani recalled that Bhat always emphasized unity and solidarity among Kashmiris, urging them to pursue freedom through consensus and peaceful means. “His speeches and writings will continue to serve as a beacon of guidance for the Kashmiri nation,” Rehmani noted.
Throughout his life, Professor Bhat was known for his efforts to bridge divides within the Kashmiri leadership, persuading leaders on both sides to seek common ground and present a united front. As Dr. Tabassum noted, “He met them and persuaded them to come to an agreed course of action.” This knack for consensus-building, coupled with his steadfastness in the face of adversity, made him a respected figure not only among his supporters but also among political opponents.
Special prayers were offered at each gathering, seeking elevation of Professor Bhat’s ranks, forgiveness, and a high place in Paradise. Condolences and sympathies poured in for the bereaved family, with many pledging to preserve Bhat’s intellectual and ideological legacy and to carry forward the freedom struggle on stronger foundations.
Yet the circumstances of Professor Bhat’s burial cast a shadow over the commemorations. According to Dawn, Indian authorities in Sopore imposed severe restrictions, barring public participation in the funeral and placing political leaders under house arrest. The family was reportedly forced to bury Bhat at night, a move widely condemned by Kashmiri leaders as a sign of India’s fear of popular sentiment and a violation of basic human dignity.
As the tributes and prayers concluded, one message stood out above all: the struggle for Kashmir’s self-determination would continue, inspired by the example of Professor Abdul Ghani Bhat. His life, marked by scholarship, political wisdom, and unwavering commitment to his people’s cause, had left a legacy that, as many said, would be difficult—if not impossible—to replace.