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Non-political Suraiya visible face of Sheikh family now

KT NEWS SERVICE. Dated: 12/7/2019 11:51:11 AM

SRINAGAR, Dec 6: With other siblings under detention, it has been left on Suraiya Matoo, the non-politician daughter of Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, to represent the family on various occasions now in Kashmir.
Despite being active socially, Suraiya avoided taking part in political activities in the past. But now the time has changed and she is the visible face of her family on Kashmir scene.
Yesterday, while her other siblings, Dr Farooq Abdullah, Dr Mustafa Kamal and Khalida Shah, were under detention, Suraiya visited the grave of her father, to offer floral tributes to him, on his 114th birth anniversary. In the past, Dr Abdullah and his politician son Omar Abdullah used to visit the grave of Sheikh to offer him tributes and address the party workers there. Since no, public gathering was allowed there by the administration yesterday, it was Suraiya who went there and became the visible face of her family. In past even if she went there in her personal capacity, her visit there used to go unnoticed.
Earlier, in the recent past Suraiya Matoo took part in a women’s protest against the abrogation of Articles 37 and 35A and downgrading of J&K state into two union territories. Farooq’s eldest daughter Safiya also accompanied her. The women were disallowed to protest and arrested, first taken to Kothibagh police station and then shifted to Central Jail. They were released the next day after they were made to sign a personal bond not to criticize the abrogation of Article 370 in future.
Farooq is under detention under public safety act (PSA) at his Gupkar residence here since August 5. Some reports say he may be shifted to his residence in Jammu, which will be converted into a sub jail, because of the freezing cold in the Valley.
Former chief minister, Omar Abdullah, continues to be under detention at Hari Niwas. His uncle Dr Mustafa Kamal, is also under house arrest, even as the authorities had recently stated that he was released. Same is the case with Farooq’s elder sister, Khalida Shah, president of Awami National Conference.
Khalida is in active politics since the days her husband formed ANC after toppling the government of Farooq with Congress support in early 1980s. Kamal has been a minister in Farooq’s government in past. But he is more known for his fiery statements against Delhi particularly the erstwhile successive Congress governments for eroding the special status of J&K from time to time.
Tariq Abullah, was the non-political son of Sheikh, who passed away several years back. Tariq used to drive his vehicle without security on the busy Srinagar roads even during the peak days of militancy.