Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti today urged Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to take up with union Home Minister Amit Shah the issue of releasing Kashmiri prisoners and bringing back detainees lodged in jails outside the union Territory.
Mehbooba made the remarks after leading a party protest for the prisoners lodged in various jails.
PDP protesters carrying placards and raising slogans of “Bail, not Jail” attempted to march here from the party headquarters to Lal Chowk, but were stopped by a heavy police deployment. The workers also shouted slogans against the ruling National Conference government.
Later, Mehbooba Mufti addressed the party workers, stressing that the protest was “not political but a humanitarian issue.”
“We had gathered here for thousands of prisoners languishing in different jails, both in Jammu and Kashmir and outside. Many of them are innocent,” she said. “I appeal to Omar Sahib to take up this issue with the Home Minister Sahib so that the innocents are released from jails.”
She said that if the Chief Minister can’t do this, at least those persons jailed outside J&K should be brought back.
Mehbooba alleged that most of the families of detainees can’t fight the legal battles due to financial constraints.
“Whether it is our leaders, the elders of Jamaat-e-Islami, or Shabir Shah or others — when they suffer from serious illnesses, their families have to make desperate efforts to secure treatment,” she said.
“If this is the condition of the leaders, then what will happen to ordinary people of Jammu and Kashmir? Who will care for their ailments?:, she asked.
She appealed to Omar Abdullah to meet the Home Minister and request him to bring prisoners back to Jammu and Kashmir so that parents can meet their wards and their cases can be resolved.
Mehbooba suggested that an all-party delegation or, if not feasible, a ministerial team should be sent to visit jails outside J&K.
Hours after the PDP chief’s appeal, CM Omar said the protest here will not yield results.
“We are all worried about this issue, but nothing will be achieved by doing it in Srinagar. The security decisions of Jammu and Kashmir are taken in Delhi. They are taken in by the Home Ministry. So it would
be better if they go to Delhi and meet the Home Minister,” Omar said
He said his government had already raised concerns about the prisnoners with the Centre.
“We put these things in front of the Home Minister in Delhi because the decision has to be made from there. If we have to do it just for show, then do it here,” he added.
Meanwhile, Hurriyat Conference chairman and Kashmir’s chief cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq called upon all political and social groups in Jammu and Kashmir, as well as members of civil society, to unite in highlighting the plight of Kashmiri prisoners lodged in jails.
“Efforts to highlight the plight of the thousands of Kashmiri prisoners languishing in jails in JK and across India, and for their relief and release, are the moral responsibility of all Kashmiris. A joint effort in this regard by all is the need of the hour, if we really want to help them,” Mirwaiz said on X.
“Playing politics even on this humanitarian issue will be a shame. I appeal to all political and social groups and members of the civil society to come together and let us jointly strive for the Release of prisoners,” he added. UNI MJR SSP
