Srinagar, May 17 : For the third consecutive Friday, Kashmir’s chief cleric and Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq was barred from offering Friday prayers at the Jamia mosque here.

In a statement, Anjuman Auqaf Jama Masjid, the managing body of the historic mosque, said Mirwaiz placed under house arrest since May 3 was again not allowed to come to Jamia Mosque to deliver the sermon and offer prayers for the third consecutive Friday.

Meanwhile to commemorate the death anniversary of Mirwaiz Maulvi Mohammad Farooq, Anjuman said a Majlis e Quran Khwani and Qirat competition was organised by it at Jamia mosque today in which a large number of students from more than 30 different seminaries of the valley participated.

Anjuman said hundreds of people attended the function which was presided by Imam Hai Ahmed Syed Naqsahbandi.

“In the recent past, no fearless, bold and compassionate leader like Shaheed-e-Millat has emerged, and there is no expectation of such a leader in the future. His absence is felt at every stage,” Moulana Naqshbandi said.

Mirwaiz Mohammad Farooq was assassinated inside his Nigeen residence in Srinagar on May 21, 1990. This killing was the first major political assassination in Kashmir then.

Moulana Naqshbandi also expressed concern over the continued house detention of Mirwaiz Umar and said it is very unfortunate that he was not allowed to even participate in this religious function to remember his father and pray for him.

UNI