Known Afghan leader and Chief of High Peace Commission Pir Syed Ahmad Gillani lost his last breath after a prolong illness in a hospital at Kabul on Sunday morning. He was around 85.
Pir Syed Ahmad Gillani’s Namaz-i-Janaza will be held at Presidential Palace in Kabul today morning and later his body will be brought to ancestral graveyard at Surakhrod near to Jalalabad on the same day.
Belong to well famous spiritual family, Pir Syed Ahmad Gillani also known as Pir Effendi was counted amongst moderate Afghan leaders and was amongst pioneers of negotiated solution to Afghan conflict. During war against former Soviet Union, Pir Syed Ahmad Gillani had established National Islamic Front of Afghanistan (NIFA) alkso called as Mahaz Milli Islami Afghanistan.
Soon after signing of Geneva Accord on April 14, 1988 last, Pir Syed Gillani has ordered all his party fighters to stop fighting and he along with fellow Afghan leaders former President Prof. Sibghat Ullah Mujaddadi and late Maulvi Nabi Mohammadi initiated efforts for a political solution. In this respect, they had asked for convening of Loya Jirga, establishment of broad based government and declaration of general amnesty. He was made as Foreign Affairs Minister in Afghan Mujahideen government established in Rawalpindi Islamabad with help of Pakistan and Saudi Arab in 1989.
He left behind a large number of followers from all oiver Afghanistan and Pakistan controlled tribal areas to mourn his death. Amongst sons Syed Hamid Gillani and Syed Mohammad Gillani are active on socio-politico fronts.
The government and people of Pakistan on Sunday expressed their heartfelt condolences over the death of Pir Syed Ahmed Gailani. Expressing sadness over the death of Gailani, the spokesperson for the Foreign Office said in a press release, that Pir Saheb was an influential religious leader who was widely respected in Afghanistan and throughout the region for his contributions towards Islam and the Afghan nation.
“He will always be remembered for his tremendous efforts to bring peace to Afghanistan and promote reconciliation. May Allah Almighty rest the departed soul in eternal peace in Jannah (Ameen),” he added.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif also expressed his deep grief over the sad demise of Pir Syed Ahmed Gailani. He also expressed condolences on behalf of the people and the Government of Pakistan, according to a press release of the PM Office media wing.
The PM said the services of Pir Saheb and his tremendous efforts to bring peace in Afghanistan and promote reconciliation would always be remembered.