Srinagar, Sept. 18 -- Former Hurriyat chairman and senior separatists leader Abdul Gani Bhat passed away at his native house in Botengu Sopore on Wednesday evening.

Bhat known as a moderate separatist leader was the most prominent separatist leader who was considered as the brainy political leader. He was 90 and from the past one year he wasn't keeping well and was bedridden. He remained Hurriyat chairman in the late 1990s and was one of the prominent separatist leaders who backed the track to diplomacy between India and Pakistan.

Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq described him as a visionary leader and an affectionate elder. "Just heard the very sad news that I lost the affectionate elder, a dear friend and colleague, Prof. Abdul G...