Srinagar: Former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Ghulam Mohammad Shah, who passed away here last evening, was buried at his ancestral graveyard near the shrine of Sufi saint Syed Mohammad Mantaki at Chattabal in interior city this evening.

As the body of Shah was laid to rest around 5 pm, buglars sounded the last post and a contingent of state police reversed their arms to pay respect to the departed leader.

Shah (88) passed away at the Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences here around 5.40 pm yesterday following cardiac arrest.

The Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, his father Farooq Abdullah, newly appointed cabinet ministers Abdul Rahim Rather, Ali Mohammad Sagar (both National Conference), Taj Mohiuddin (Congress) and host of present and former National Conference legislators attended the funeral.

PDP Patron and former Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed was among the first few who visited the residence of Shah this morning to offer his condolences.

Among the separatists, President of Jamiat-e-Ahlihadees Maulana Showkat Ahmed Shah and Shahidul Islam of Awami Action Committee were among those present at the funeral as well as at the Nimaz-e-Jinazzah (prayer before burial) offered to the body of Shah by hundreds of people at pologround in the heart of the city.

Islam later told reporters that he had come in his personal capacity as he has close ties with Shah's son Muzaffar Shah.

Pir Mohammad Abdullah, priest of Chattabal mosque, led the prayers before and after the funeral.

While Omar Abdullah refused to talk to the media, Farooq Abdullah said in the demise of Shah he and his family has suffedred a great loss.
Source : PTI