Srinagar, Sep 17: Former Hurriyat Conference chairman Abdul Gani Bhat, 90, passed away after a brief illness this evening at his residence in Kashmir’s Sopore, his family said.

Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq confirmed the news, describing Bhat as an affectionate elder and a visionary leader.

“Just heard the very sad news that I lost the affectionate elder, a dear friend and colleague, Prof. Abdul Ghani Bhat Sahib, who passed away sometime ago. Kashmir has been bereft of a sincere and visionary leader…,” Mirwaiz wrote on X.

Born in Botengo, a village about 10 kilometres from Sopore, Bhat began his career as an academician before entering politics. He studied Persian, economics, and political science at Sri Pratap College, Srinagar, and later earned a postgraduate degree in Persian

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