Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Dec 11: Veteran trade union leader and journalist Abdul Gani Hafiz passed away this morning after brief illness. He was 79 and is survived by two sons and five daughters.
Hafiz breathed his last at Sher-e- Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) where he was admitted for last two weeks. He was suffering from cancer and lost the battle. He was later laid to rest in his ancestral grave yard in Natipora. Large number of people from different walks of life joined the Nimaze-e-Jinaza and extended solidarity with the family. His Rasm-e-Chaharum will be observed on December 14 (Sunday).
Born in Natipora he started his career with Rural Development Department and soon got associated with Low Paid Employees Federation. He valiantly fought for the rights of the Government employees and led the first pen down strike of the employees and went underground. He became the Secretary of Federation and functioned for many years. For his pro employees struggle he was also dismissed from service but he never gave up. He was also jailed in 1975 and lodged in various jails. Though reinstated later, he voluntarily quit the job and dedicated himself to the welfare of employees.
A prolific writer, Hafiz edited Urdu weekly “Awami Mua’zin” for many years and before that he worked as Editor in “Naya Sansar”. He also edited monthly magazine “Naye Rastey”. A multi faced personality; Hafiz was a man with qualities of head and heard. A noted social worker he had dedicated his life towards the work for downtrodden people. He had closely worked with noted human rights activist Late H N Wanchoo.
The deceased was father of Rising Kashmir Managing Editor Hafiz Ayaz Gani and Hafiz Ejaz Ahmad (businessman) father in law of RK Editor Shujaat Bukhari besides Mir Ghulam Jeelani, Er Shuja Suhrawardy and Musadiq Jan.
His death has been widely mourned and various social and political organisations have condoled it expressing solidarity with the family.
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