SRINAGAR, May 16: Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party (JKAP) senior leader and former minister Ghulam Hassan Mir on Saturday demanded release of political activists, lawyers and tradesmen who have been kept under preventive detention on the eve of Eid-ul-Fitr.
In a statement issued here, Mir appealed the Lieutenant Governor G.C Murmu to release all political leaders and activists as a good will gesture so as to enable them to celebrate the holy festival with their families.
“All the political leaders, lawyers, tradesmen and social activists who are still under preventive detention should be released ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr as an initiative to build an environment of mutual trust and confidence among the public,” Mir demanded.
He expressed deep concern over the reports about deteriorating health condition of some political prisoners who also need to be released immediately on humanitarian grounds. “Similarly, there are scores of political activists who are lodged outside J&K jails, since August 5, 2019 who need to be shifted back and subsequently released before the Eid festival,” the JKAP leader added.
Mir observed that the families of the detainees who have been kept under preventive custody are suffering immensely and their release can bring a huge relief to them. “Eid would be a great occasion to start this confidence building process. This process needs to be taken forward,” he observed.
The JKAP leader also urged the government of India to take a purpose oriented call on these unwarranted detentions and free all political detainees including those who are detained under PSA.
“The present situation demands that all political leaders and activists who continue to be under detention on mere suspicion or have been slapped with PSA on flimsy grounds should be freed in order to make the situation more conducive,” Mir observed.
The JKAP leader demanded that the government should lift all forms of curbs on the political leaders and activists who are in different jails inside and outside J&K or have been restricted to their residences. “Such decisions will surely pave way for a positive change on the ground.”
