Karnah, Apr 5: The friends and relatives of Justice Syed Manzoor-ul-Hassan Geelani - who has been appointed as the Chief Justice of Pakistan administered Kashmir- are ecstatic on his appointment.
 Justice Geelani hails from Drangla Karnah in North Kashmir and did his schooling from here. During 1947 war, his father Syed Hassan Shah migrated to Muzaffarabad with his two sons but he left Geelani back at Kandi with his grandfather and maternal uncle Peer Gyas-ud-din. Peer enrolled Geelani in a middle school in Kandi where he received his education. The school is today known as Sher-e-Kashmir Higher Secondary School.
 While his parents settled in Muzaffarabad, his uncle sent him to Varmul wherefrom he passed his matriculation, higher secondary and subsequently the bachelor’s degree.
 While his maternal uncle bore the expenses for his education, he later sent him to Aligarh Muslim University wherefrom he did bachelors degree in Law.
 He later returned to Karnah and worked in several courts in Karnah and Kupwara as an advocate. During the same time he got married to one of his cousins.
 But he always yearned to see his parents. In 1972, Geelani decided to visit his parents in Pakistan. He got a passport and went to Pakistan via Wagah Border and never returned to the Valley.
 In Muzaffarabad, he worked as an advocate. He was subsequently promoted as a High Court judge and later a Supreme Court judge.
 On Saturday, Geelani was appointed as the Acting Chief Justice of Pak administered Kashmir.
 His friends and relatives in Karnah are jubilant over his appointment. “I met him last time at the Teetwal crossing point and there he told me he might be elevated to the post of Chief Justice,” his maternal uncle, Peer Gyas-ud-din said.
 “I am very happy over his appointment,” he said in an elated tone.
 “He was very intelligent from a tender age and he has made us proud. I wish him more and more success in days to come,” said Peer Siraj-ud-din, his another relative in Karnah.
 His former neighbours are equally happy for him. “When he left the place we were so saddened but today we are happy for him,” said Abdul Qayoom, a resident of Kandi Karnah.

Lastupdate on : Mon, 5 Apr 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 5 Apr 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 6 Apr 2010 00:00:00 IST