Kashmiri Shia leader Ifftekhar Ansari dies; Omar Abdullah condoles death

Srinagar, Sep 30: Senior Shia leader and senior vice president of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Molvi Ifftekhar Hussain Ansari died here Tuesday. He was 72.

Family sources said he was ailing for quite some time.

He was a firebrand politician and a learned Shia scholar. His death is being widely mourned in Jammu and Kashmir by people cutting across religious, sectarian and political affiliations.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah was among the first to reach the late leader's uptown Qamarwari residence in Srinagar when he heard of the news.

My heartfelt condolences to the family & followers of Maulvi Iftikhar Ansari. His untimely demise has left a void that will be long felt 1/2

— Omar Abdullah (@abdullah_omar) September 30, 2014

Maulvi Sb has cast a long shadow with his contribution as a religious leader & as a public representative which will be long remembered. 2/2

— Omar Abdullah (@abdullah_omar) September 30, 2014

Ansari began his political career in late 1970s when he contested the Lok Sabha election from Srinagar constituency against National Conference founder Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah's widow Begum Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah.

He lost the election, but was credited for starting the culture of genuine mainstream political opposition in Kashmir.

IANS