Srinagar: Senior National Conference leader and former MP Mohammad Shafi Bhat died at his residence here today after prolonged illness, officials said.
Bhat was 71 and had been suffering from illness for the past few years.
He breathed his last at his Tulsibagh official residence this morning and he was later laid to rest at his ancestral graveyard in Rajbagh locality of uptown Srinagar, the officials said.
A law graduate, Bhat joined National Conference decades ago and got elected to the Lok Sabha on the party ticket from Srinagar parliamentary constituency in 1989.
Bhat represented Amirakadal Assembly constituency of Srinagar on National Conference ticket in 1996. However, he parted ways with the party and joined Congress ahead of 2002 Assembly polls.
He contested the election from Amirakadal constituency on Congress ticket and retained the seat. In 2008 Assembly polls, he filed nomination papers as independent candidate after National Conference denied him mandate from Amirakadal.
He, however, later withdrew in favour of party candidate Nasir Aslam Wani and returned to the party fold, National Conference sources said.
Prior to joining National Conference, Bhat had held various top positions of the High Court Bar Association, Srinagar.
His daughter Hina Shhafi Bhat is the state vice president of BJP’s Mahilla Morcha. She joined BJP prior to the Assembly polls in 2014.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti and Deputy Chief Minister Dr Nirmal Singh have condoled the demise of former Parliamentarian and former Legislator Mohammad Shafi Bhat.
In her condolence message, the Chief Minister while extending heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family prayed for eternal peace to the departed soul.
In his condolence message, the Deputy Chief Minister expressed sympathies with the bereaved family and prayed for eternal peace to the departed soul.
National Conference President Farooq Abdullah and Working President Omar Abdullah have expressed profound grief and sorrow over the demise of Bhat and extended their heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family.
Abdullah visited the residence of Bhat and expressed his solidarity with the bereaved family, a party release said.
It said senior party leaders including Party General Secretary Ali Mohammad Sagar, Additional General Secretary Sheikh Mustafa Kamal, Abdul Rahim Rather, Mohammad Shafi Uri, Chaudhary Mohammad Ramzan, Mohammad Akbar Lone, Mian Altaf, Mubarak Gul, Provincial President Kashmir Nasir Aslam Wani and Sakina Ittoo have also expressed grief over Bhat’s demise.
JKPCC Chief G.A Mir expressed grief over the passing away of Shafi Bhat and described his demise as a great loss. He sympathised with the bereaved family and offered condolences.
Expressing deep sorrow and grief over the sad demise of senior political leader, MLC and Vice President Gulam Nabi Monga termed his demise a great loss.
While offering condolences to bereaved family, Monga prayed for eternal peace to departed soul.