Former minister Qazi Afzal passes away

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, March 2

Former minister and senior Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader Qazi Afzal, 76, passed away at the Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences on Friday after a prolonged illness. His death was widely condoled.

Afzal created ripples in Kashmir politics in the 2002 Assembly polls when he defeated Omar Abdullah from the Ganderbal constituency, the seat which was a traditional bastion of the National Conference. Afzal has been the only leader who defeated the Abdullahs in their home constituency since the National Conference, founded by Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, returned to electoral politics in 1975. Sheikh Abdullah won from Ganderbal in1977 and his son Farooq Abdullah won successive elections in 1983, 1987 and 1996, while Omar got elected from this constituency in 2008.

After his dramatic win in 2002, Afzal was inducted into the Cabinet in the PDP-Congress coalition led by Mufti Mohammad Sayeed. Afzal was in the centre of a controversy when as a Forest Minister he issued the Amarnath land order in 2008 that triggered protests in the Valley and pitted Jammu against Kashmir.

Afzal unsuccessfully contested the 2008 and 2014 Assembly elections as a PDP candidate from Ganderbal.

Governor Satya Pal Malik has expressed grief over the demise of Afzal. The PDP termed Afzal a far-sighted, fearless and forthright politician.

“He was among the most effective voices for the rights of the poor and marginalised. The measures he took for the welfare of the people of Ganderbal are worth noting and will be remembered for times to come,” the party leadership said in a condolence message.

Congress vice-president and former MLC Ghulam Nabi Monga said Afzal was a dedicated leader.