Sheikh Nazir, NC patron and Omar Abdullah’s uncle, dies

Unmarried, he was held in high esteem by his party workers who considered him as the main architect of strengthening NC at grass root level across the state. Considered very close to Farooq Abdullah, it was also generally believed that many of his important political and administrative decisions, both in the party and the government, were influenced by him.

He was admitted to the government medical college hospital in Jammu on Monday following a kidney problem. He was put on life support system following deterioration of his health condition.

He breathed his last at 5 am, said National Conference provincial president Devender Rana.

Omar had visited the hospital on Monday evening to enquire about his uncle’s health. He would be buried in the family’s ancestral graveyard in Soura area of Srinagar on Tuesday afternoon.