No immediate US visa to Geelani

Sriangar, Mar 14 (UNI) The United States has informed ailing Syed Ali Shah Geelani, chairman of the breakaway Hurriyat Conference (HC), that he cannot be issued immediate visa to travel to that country.

Mr Geelani was informed by the officials of the US embassy in New Delhi that it will take at least one month to grant visa to him, his wife and son, a spokesman of the HC Aiyaz Akbar told UNI.

Mr Geelani, his wife and son had applied in the US embassy for a visa on Monday for taking him there for specialised treatment.

''We cannot wait for a month as Mr Geelani needs immediate medical attention,'' the spokesman said.

He said a number of options were available and a decision would be taken soon as to where Mr Geelani should now be taken for treatment.

However, he said, majority of the people suggested that Mr Geelani be treated in the Delhi's Appollo hospital, where he was under the treatment of Dr Sameer Kaul.

He said the HC leaders were in touch with Dr Kaul, who is in Holland at present. A final decision would be taken once Dr Kaul returns, he said.

Dr Kaul in his report had said Mr Geelani needed urgent surgical attention for treatment of metastatic disease renal transplantation.

Mr Akbar said a number of offers were also made from different countries and individuals.

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