Detained since last year, J&K bar chief to be released soon

MIAN ABDUL QAYOOM’S LAWYER ASKED SC AND GOVERNMENT TO SHOW LENIENCY CONSIDERING HIS CLIENT’S ADVANCED AGE AND TROUBLED HEALTH AND RELEASE HIM IMMEDIATELY

NEWDELHI: The Supreme Court on Wednesday granted allowed the release of Jammu & Kashmir High Court Bar Association president Mian Abdul Qayoom, 73, saying the region has gone through troubled times and it was time for healing the wounds of Kashmiris and to look forward to a future within India. It said Qayoom’s release on Thursday on the condition that he will not travel to Jammu & Kashmir till August 7 and refrain from making any public statements will enable him to celebrate Eid on Saturday.

A justice Sanjay Kishan Kaulled three-judge bench, which hoped the government will make efforts to restore normalcy in Kashmir, ordered Qayoom’s release after the Centre agreed to it taking into account his age and deteriorating health. “Kashmir has been a troubled area. Nature has been very kind to the place. It is the human race that has been unkind. It is time for all wounds to be healed and look to the future within the domain of our country,” the bench said.

Qayoom was among hundreds of people, including three former chief ministers, detained in August last year as part of measures to prevent protests against Centre’s move to divest Jammu & Kashmir of its special status. A communications blackout and a lockdown were imposed. Most restrictions have since been eased even as mobile internet remains restricted. Two former CMs Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah were released in March while Mehbooba Mufti remains under detention.

The court said it is sure Qayoom will also adopt a more constructive approach to the future and the government will consider how to bring complete normalcy at the earliest.