Renowned Kashmiri Shia leader and politician Moulvi Iftikhar Hussain Ansari, passed away here Tuesday morning in Indian capital New Delhi, leaving his multitude of followers in shock and grief.
Molvi Iftikhar was diagnosed with cancer last year. A close aide of the Peoples Democratic Party politician told Kashmir Dispatch that Ansari lost the battle to liver cirrhosis during the Tuesday night.
He was shifted to his flooded Qamarwari residence 'Darul Jawad' from his daughters home in Zadibal Sunday night sparking speculations about his deteriorating condition.
Ansari who was a lawmaker representing Pattan in North Kashmir had been recently shifted to New Delhi hospital.
His aide told Dispatch that he would be buried in Zaedbal in Srinagar.
Thousands of people were converging at his residence since early today, reports said.
Molvi Ansari had succeeded his father Molvi Muhammad Jawad as president of All Jammu and Kashmir Shia Association in 1962. He was earlier a member of National Conference and Congress.
He was thrice the target of unsuccessful assassination attempts. In June 2000 Ansari escaped the explosion of a landmine while addressing a religious congregation at Gund Khwaja Qasim. The blast killed twelve of his followers. On 1 September 2000 Ansari was injured by an IED explosion that killed two policemen and a driver. Police suspected Hizbul Mujahideen.
He was currently the vice president of Peoples Democratic Party.
