Syed Ali Geelani funeral: PM Imran Khan slams 'Nazi-inspired' BJP govt

• "Registering cases against his family is just another shameful example of India’s descent into fascism," says PM Imran Khan. 
• PM condemns India's action of snatching Geelani's body. 
• Syed Ali Geelani passed away on Wednesday evening. 
• India registers case against Geelani's family, others for chanting pro-Pakistan slogans and wrapping his body in Pakistan's flag. 

Prime Minister Imran Khan Sunday lashed out at the "Nazi-inspired" BJP government for snatching the mortal remains of Kashmiri leader Syed Ali Geelani and registering cases against his family. 

The prime minister paid tribute to Geelani in a tweet, referring to him as "one of the most respected & principled Kashmiri leaders" and condemned India in the strongest words for snatching his body. 

"Then registering cases against his family is just another shameful example of India’s descent into fascism under the Nazi-inspired RSS-BJP," tweeted PM Imran Khan. 

Geelani, arguably the most prominent Kashmiri freedom fighter and rights activist, passed away at his Hyderpora residence Wednesday evening after battling a prolonged illness. 

Indian authorities, fearful of a mass uprising, moved quickly to deploy thousands of troops across the occupied territory.

Moreover, the Indian occupation forces snatched the body from the family and forcibly buried it in a cemetery in Hyderpora before sunrise.

The bereaved family chanted slogans in favour of independence and Pakistan. They were tortured and locked in a room by Indian forces, according to media reports.

On Saturday, an FIR were registered against Geelani's family members and "other elements" by the Indian police. 

The family were accused of "raising anti-national slogans and resorting to other anti-national activities" at the influential resistance leader's home soon after his death.

The separatist leader's son Naseem Geelani said that police took his father's body away to be buried in the middle of the night just hours after his death, and did not allow the family to perform last rites.

"We told the visiting police officers that they had taken control of everything after my father's death and that we were mourning. We had no way of knowing who was doing what," the son told AFP on Sunday.

A video widely shared on social media showed the leader's body wrapped in a Pakistani flag before police officers took it away amid a scuffle with his family members.

Chants of "we want freedom" were heard in the background during the mayhem.

Police in Kashmir said a case under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) — which effectively allows people to be held without trial indefinitely.

They have not yet been detained by police, according to AFP.

Mehbooba Mufti, former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir and President of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said that India, having turned Kashmir into an open air prison, has not even spared the dead now.

"A family isn't allowed to mourn and bid a final farewell as per their wishes. Booking Geelani sahab's family under UAPA shows India's deep rooted paranoia and ruthlessness. This is New India's Naya Kashmir," she wrote.

Qureshi slams India for snatching Geelani's mortal remains

On Friday, in response to a question, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said he had raised the issue of atrocities in occupied Kashmir that are being committed by India with the UK foreign secretary. 

Qureshi was addressing a joint press conference with the British foreign secretary, who had arrived in Islamabad to hold talks with Pakistani authorities on the evolving Afghanistan situation. 

The Pakistani foreign minister had said he discussed how Geelani was denied a "decent burial" by Indian security forces, adding that it was a violation of an individual's basic right.

"There will be hundreds of funerals [for Geelani]. There is one taking place right here in Islamabad today. Every parliamentarian will go there. If you [UK foreign secretary] were not here, I would have gone myself," added Qureshi.

He had said it was not possible to suppress freedom of expression. The Pakistani foreign minister said he discussed the issue with Raab, who said the UK's position on Kashmir is a stated and known one.

"However, he told me that it does not stop them from raising human rights issues. If they [UK authorities] do that, thank you."

In response, Raab had that the UK has a longstanding policy of encouraging India and Pakistan both to pursue a longstanding solution to the Kashmir crisis.

"It is not for the UK to impose its solution to the Kashmir crisis," he said, adding that London encouraged both Islamabad and New Delhi to hold concrete dialogue over the issue.