Geelani reapplies for fresh passport

Sriangar, Mar 8 (UNI) Ailing Syed Ali Shah Geelani, chairman of the breakaway Hurriyat Conference (HC) has applied afresh for a passport to go abroad for specialised treatment.

Besides Mr Geelani, his wife and son Naseem have also applied for the passport, a spokesman of the HC Aiyaz Akbar told UNI.

He said three fresh applications were submitted in the Regional Passport Office (RPO) here for the passports yesterday.

Mr Geelani's passport was impounded by the authorities in 1981 and since then his applications for issuing fresh passport or travel documents were denied. However, he was allowed to perform haj pilgrimage last year along with his wife.

Jammu and Kashmir High Court has also directed that Mr Geelani, suffering from cancer, be issued a passport so that he could travel abroad for treatment.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has also directed the administration to issue travel documents to ailing Geelani.

Former Pakistani cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan has also offered to treat Mr Geelani in the Showkat Khanam Memorial Cancer hospital, Lahore.

In a communication Mr Khan, chief of Tehreek-e-Insaf in Pakistan has said he will get Mr Geelani treated.

The HC (Geelani), former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minster Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and several other separatists and mainstream leaders have also requested the centre to allow Mr Geelani to go abroad for treatment.

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