Srinagar, May 9: Ghulam Muhammad Masoodi, 71, passed away at SKIMS here after prolonged illness last night. The deceased is father of senior journalist and NDTV Bureau Chief Nazir Masoodi.
 He was diagnosed of Carcinoma stomach nine months ago and was operated twice in TATA Cancer Institute Mumbai. He was admitted in SKIMS 23 days ago after he developed pneumonia. He was kept on ventilator in Intensive Care Unit (ICU) ward of SKIMS, where he breathed his last Tuesday night.
 He is survived by three sons and four daughters besides his wife. His Chahrum would be observed on Saturday at Branwari in frontier district of Kupwara.
 Masoodi was laid to rest at his ancestral graveyard in Kupwara on Wednesday morning people from all walks of life, including Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, senior journalists and others, participated in the funeral prayers. Chief Minister was accompanied by Minister of State for Home Nasir Aslam Wani, and Director General of Police (DGP) Kuldeep Khoda. They expressed solidarity with the bereaved family and prayed for peace for the departed soul.
 Governor N N Vohra, has condoled the sad demise of the father of Nazir Masoodi. In a condolence message, he expressed sympathy with Nazir Masoodi and other members and prayed for eternal peace to the departed soul.
 Minister for Rural, Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Ali Muhammad Sagar has also expressed grief over the sad demise of Ghulam Muhammad Masoodi. In his condolence message, the Minister described late Masoodi as a philanthropist and a social worker who worked tirelessly for the upliftment of weak and downtrodden.
 Peoples Democratic party (PDP) patron Mufti Muhammad Sayeed and President Mehbooba Mufti expressed grief over the sad demise. In a statement, PDP leaders described the late Masoodi as a respectable social and religious personality of Kupwara who will be missed by large number of his friends and admirers.
 Pradesh Congress Committee J&K President Prof. Saif-ud-Din Soz expressed deep sorrow over the demise and prayed for the deceased and expressed sympathies with the bereaved family.

Lastupdate on : Wed, 9 May 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Wed, 9 May 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Thu, 10 May 2012 00:00:00 IST