PC S’person Flags Assault, PSA Detention of MLA Mehraj Malik; Appeals to Speaker for Accountability – Alfaaz – The Words

Srinagar: Former MLA Kupwara and Chief Spokesperson of the J&K Peoples Conference, Advocate Bashir Ahmad Dar, has written to the Speaker of the J&K Legislative Assembly, expressing strong concern over what he termed a “systematic assault” on the institution of MLA Mehraj Malik.

In his letter, Dar condemned the detention of sitting MLA Mehraj Malik under the Public Safety Act (PSA) and recalled the “unprecedented and shameful” physical assault on him inside the Assembly premises. He described Malik’s arrest as “a question of the Assembly’s dignity,” urging the Speaker to “step outside the box” to safeguard legislative sanctity.

“The institution of MLA is being rapidly eroded. As someone who has been an MLA myself, it pains me to see this decline. The arrest of a sitting legislator under PSA is not just about one individual, it is about the dignity of the Assembly itself,” Dar wrote.

He stressed that while the Assembly may not directly control the Home Department, “nothing prevents it from taking a stand.” He said legislative disapproval would send a strong message on behalf of the masses.

Dar also reminded the Speaker that Malik was earlier physically attacked inside the Assembly premises — the first such incident since 1947. “This was not a scuffle during proceedings, but a calculated assault outside session hours. Shockingly, no punitive measures were taken,” he noted, questioning the Speaker’s silence and calling for an inquiry into how non-MLAs gained access to the premises.

Drawing a distinction between political disagreements and targeted violence, Dar said: “There is a world of difference between heated exchanges during a session and a cowardly, vicious attack on a lone MLA when the House is not in progress.”

Defending Malik, he argued that his grassroots rise was the reason behind the targeting. “Had he been an elitist, establishment-driven politician, nobody would have dared lay a finger on him or slap PSA against him,” Dar wrote.

Appealing to the Speaker to act decisively, Dar urged measures to restore public faith in the Assembly and ensure accountability. “I implore you to take a firm stance to ensure the legislature addresses the implications of the PSA and that the administrative system identifies those who participated in the assault,” he said, warning that failure to act would set a dangerous precedent.