Mehbooba Mufti condemns attack on Dr Farooq Abdullah

Anantnag, Mar 12: Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti on Thursday welcomed the bail granted to separatist leader Shabir Shah but said thousands of Kashmiri youths jailed under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) also deserve relief.

“I welcome the bail granted to Shabir Shah. His family, particularly his daughter, deserves appreciation for remaining resilient and moving from pillar to post for his release,” Mufti told reporters in Bijbehara.

She said many other youths remain lodged in jails across the country and their families lack the financial means to pursue legal remedies. “There are thousands of youths whose families are poor and cannot afford to approach lower courts, let alone higher courts. These undertrials deserve to be heard and granted bail, or at least shifted to Kashmir so their families can visit them,” she said.

Mufti alleged that trials in many such cases have not progressed. “Neither are the proceedings being held nor is any verdict delivered,” she said. She added that she had earlier approached the High Court but the verdict was not in her favour. “Now I have decided to move the Supreme Court for their speedy trial, bail and shifting to Kashmir,” she said. Mufti also criticised the administration’s decision to terminate employees on charges of anti-national activities. “Terminating poor employees on the pretext of being anti-national is not justified. How will these people make ends meet?” she said.

She said youth should not be harassed or repeatedly summoned, urging security agencies to focus on safeguarding people’s lives. Condemning the attack on National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah in Jammu, Mufti said the incident raised serious security concerns.

“This is shocking and no amount of condemnation is enough. Farooq Sahib is a senior leader and has served as chief minister many times. How could a person reach so close to him in Jammu to carry out such an attack?” she said. “Security agencies must examine where the lapse occurred. An assailant getting so close to such a senior leader requires a thorough investigation,” she added.