Conflict

Resistance leader Dr Aala, who studied in GMC Srinagar, dies in Muzaffarabad

Srinagar: Abdul Aala, an alumnus of Government Medical College (GMC) Srinagar, who migrated to Pakistan in 1994 is no more. He was in late 80s.

A veteran pro-freedom activist, Dr Aala was admitted in Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Pakistan administered Kashmir (PaK) last week after he felt unwell. Reports coming from Muzaffarabad – the capital city of PaK – said that his funeral prayers will be held at 2:30 PM at K H Khurshid Stadium Muzaffarabad. He was put on ventilator for last three days.

Dr Aala is a descendant of famous Shah family of Shopian which had migrated from Srinagar to the area.

“Dr Aala belongs to family of famous preacher Syed Hussain Shah Batkoo who had come from Srinagar and settled in Shopian and later founded Jamiat-e-Ahl Hadees as an organisation in Kashmir,” a close family friend of Dr Aala told FreePressKashmir. He did not wish to reveal his name.

Survived by wife, three sons (Dr Usman, Dr Umar, Mekayeel)  and a daughter (Dr Fatima), Dr Aala, had joined Al Fatah – a pro-freedom group – in 1960s while he was pursuing bachelors degree in medicine (MBBS) from GMC Srinagar. “He joined government service as a doctor but was arrested and jailed many a times up to his retirement in late 1980s,” he informed. For some time, Dr Aala was also associated with Peoples League and headed People’s Political Front (PPF) in Pakistan as well.

The family of Dr Aala had settled in Chanpora area of Shopian but “after he joined the government he shifted to main town Shopian”. “He had been living in Islamabad, Abbotabad and of late had shifted his base to Muzaffarabad,” Dr Aala’s family friend said.

His extended family in Shopian has been mostly working in government sector. His only brother recently retired as sessions judge.

At the time of his retirement from government service, Dr Aala was posted in Shopian.

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