Onlykashmir.in News Desk
Awami Itihaad Party (AIP) leaders have expressed profound grief over the demise of Khawja Mohammad Qasim, retired District and Sessions Judge and grandfather of Advocate Khawja Hassnain, Chief Defence Coordinator for incarcerated MP Er Rashid.
An AIP delegation comprising Vice President Adv G. N. Shaheen, Chief Spokesperson Inam Un Nabi, senior party leaders and Langate MLA Sheikh Khursheed visited the bereaved family at their residence in MIG Colony, Bemina, Srinagar, to pay homage and offer condolences.
The delegation conveyed its deepest sympathies, particularly to the deceased’s son, Senior Advocate Tassaduq Hussain Khawja, and grandson Advocate Khawja Hassnain, and prayed for strength and patience for the entire family.
Inam Un Nabi expressed solidarity with Hassnain, acknowledging his dedication to his professional responsibilities as Chief Defence Coordinator for Er Rashid. He said the loss of a grandfather, mentor and guiding figure leaves an irreplaceable void in one’s life, and conveyed his sympathies to him and the family.
Describing Khawja Mohammad Qasim as a noble soul with an equally noble mind, Senior AIP leader and MLA Sheikh Khursheed said his contribution to society and the nation could not be adequately summed up in words. He remembered him as a true patriot and an exceptionally competent, honest and dignified judge whose passing, he said, was an irreparable loss to the nation.
Vice President Adv G. N. Shaheen recalled that the late Qasim was the brother-in-law of the late Justice S. M. Rizvi, and prayed for eternal peace for the departed soul and strength for the bereaved family.
Condolence visits by political delegations are a common practice in Kashmir, where public figures traditionally call on families after a bereavement irrespective of their political affiliations. The visit also shows the closeness between the AIP leadership and members of the legal team handling the case of Baramulla MP Er Rashid, who has been in custody for several years and whose release the party has repeatedly demanded.
Qasim served as District and Sessions Judge before retirement, a senior position in the subordinate judiciary, and he was remembered by speakers for his integrity. The statement did not give the date of his passing or details of his career, and no further information was available about funeral arrangements.
Members of the legal fraternity and others are expected to continue to visit the family at their Bemina residence to offer condolences. The AIP has said it stands with the family in this difficult time.
