A book containing speeches of former Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and write ups on him by some famed writers was released by the Chief Minister, Ms Mehbooba Mufti here today.The book has been compiled by Member, Legislative Council and former journalist, Firdous Tak.The book contains some of the historic speeches delivered by late Mufti Mohammad Sayeed including the address to the United Nations General Assembly in 2006, first address in the Legislative Assembly after taking over as Chief Minister in 2002, addresses on party’s foundation day in 2005 and in 2015.The book also contains articles by renowned writers like Madhu Kishwar, Prem Shankar Jha, Barkha Dutt, Ashok Bhan, Iftikhar Geelani, Sajad Ghani Lone, David Devdas, Sanjay Nahar, Prof. Happymohan Jacob, Neerja Choudhary, Ghulam Nabi Khayal, Prof. Rekha Choudhary, Shujaat Bukhari, Zaffar Choudhary, Peerzada Ashiq and others on various aspects of the life and contribution of late Mufti Sayeed.
The Chief Minister also launched a website www.muftisayeed.com on the occasion. The website contains videos and pictures of the former Chief Minister besides his speeches and interviews.Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said late Mufti Sayeed always dreamed about his people and their welfare. She said he would always advise her that service to mankind was the biggest among all the prayers before God. She said she always saw him besieged with the problems and difficulties of common people.Mehbooba Mufti said one of the great virtues of her father was that he taught his family to live the life of a common man despite himself being in power and position, even at highest level, for decades together. She said late Mufti Sayeed considered, and practiced, all people as part of his extended family and would give the same attention to their problems as he would to his own children.
On the occasion, two of the close associates of late Mufti Sayeed-MP and former Deputy Chief Minister, Muzaffar Hussain Baig and veteran journalist, Muhammad Sayeed Malik shared with the audience their experiences of working with the former Chief Minister.In his address, Muzaffar Hussain Baig described late Mufti Sayeed as a multi-faceted personality, who all along his political life stood as a realistic leader connected to the ground realities. He said the former Chief Minister never committed what he could not deliver adding the late leader possessed the unique knack of carrying everybody along, irrespective of their regional, religious or ideological affiliations.Muhammad Sayeed Malik in his address also shared his memories with late Mufti Sayeed. He said the former Chief Minister always kept himself abreast with latest political developments, not at the local level only but at national and international levels also. He said his mannerism and soft spoken approach would make anybody who met him as his fan.Several Ministers, legislators, family of late Mufti Sayeed, members of legal fraternity, academicians, members of business community, writers and intellectuals were present on the occasion.(CNS)