Ishtiyaq Ahmad
Early Times Report
srinagar, Oct 15: As major leaders of mainstream political parties continue to be behind bars, these parties have wind up their legal cells in Jammu and Kashmir.
National Conference, Peoples Democratic Party's senior leaders including Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah, Mehbooba Mufti, along with several party leaders have been detained by the administration on August 5, the day Government of India abrogated Article 370, 35A, and bifurcated the state into two union territories. Since last year, the government authorities have launched a crackdown against Hurriyat leaders besides arresting scores of people associated with socio-religious groups. The political parties have criticized the government for banning JKLF and Jamiet-e-Islami.
Earlier this year, several political parties had set up own legal cells for providing legal aid to political detainees apparently to woo voters. Fearing trouble, these parties have now wind up their legal cells in Kashmir.
A PDP leader said they had set up legal cells to provide legal aid to political detainees.
"We have already so many lawyers who were pleading cases. But we have stopped work at our legal cells," the leader said.
Asked whether the lawyers associated with the PDP had provided any legal aid so far, he replied, "I don't have details with me but who so ever had approached us, we did provide them legal aid. But we fear trouble now as we can't provide legal aid to separatists now."
Earlier, senior PDP leader Muzaffar Hussain Beg had said they were ready to provide legal assistance to both JeI and Yasin Malik-led JKLF in Supreme Court and the High Court.
Similarly, the National Conference had set up legal cell headed by former advocate general.
Newly floated party J&K Peoples Movement (JKPM)-led by Shah Faesal had also announced is in the process of setting up of legal cell. "We are creating a special legal cell for providing legal aid to political prisoners, particularly detainees shifted outside the state. Families of incarcerated individuals and interested lawyers and volunteers can contact," Faesal had tweeted before August 5.
"I have been told that various leaders are facing inhuman jail conditions and no one is coming forward to help," Faesal had said in a statement. |
