After keeping her in detention for more than a year, the Jammu and Kashmir government has finally decided to release former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti.
Mehbooba Mufti was released around 9.45 pm.
Confirming this development, Official Spokesperson of the J&K government, Rohit Kansal tweeted, “Ms. Mehbooba Mufti being released.”
Ms. Mehbooba Mufti being released @dipr
— Rohit Kansal (@kansalrohit69) October 13, 2020
Mehbooba Mufti was among the several Kashmiri politicians who were detained on August 5 when the central government moved bills in Parliament to abrogate Article 370 of the Constitution that accorded special status to Jammu and Kashmir.
While other prominent Kashmiri politicians like Omar Abdullah, Farooq Abdullah and others were released earlier this year, Mehbooba Mufti’s detention was extended on several occasions.
The last such extension was in July when the J&K government decided to extend her detention by three months.
Mehbooba Mufti was being detained under the stringent Public Safety Act. She was lodged at her official residence ‘Fair View’, which has been converted into a subsidiary jail.
Mehbooba Mufti was initially detained on August 5 last year when the Centre abrogated special status of the erstwhile state and bifurcated it into two union territories — Ladakh, and Jammu and Kashmir.
As Ms Mufti’s illegal detention finally comes to an end, Id like to thank everybody who supported me in these tough times. I owe a debt of gratitude to you all. This is Iltija signing off. May allah protect you
— Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) October 13, 2020
Later, her six-month preventive custody was extended by invoking PSA on February 5 this year along with her political rival and former chief minister Omar Abdullah.
Having spent over eight months in detention at two government facilities that were designated as sub-jails, Mehbooba Mufti was shifted to her home on April 7, a move that some saw as a partial relief to her.
Prior to be moved to her home, Mehbooba Mufti was lodged in a government guesthouse in Chashma Shahi and a bungalow on Maulana Azad Road near Lal Chowk.
Mehbooba Mufti’s party – People’s Democratic Party (PDP) – was in power in Jammu and Kashmir in alliance with the BJP till June 2018.
In February, her daughter, Iltija Mufti, moved a habeas corpus petition before the Supreme Court challenging her mother’s detention.
The matter is pending before the court.
Meanwhile, reacting to the announcement of Mehbooba Mufti’s release, national Conference leader and former J&K CM Omar Abduallh said he is “pleased” to hear the news.
“I’m pleased to hear that Mehbooba Mufti Sahiba has been released after more than a year in detention. Her continued detention was a travesty and was against the basic tenets of democracy. Welcome out Mehbooba,” he tweeted.
I’m pleased to hear that @MehboobaMufti Sahiba has been released after more than a year in detention. Her continued detention was a travesty & was against the basic tenets of democracy. Welcome out Mehbooba.
— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) October 13, 2020
Soon after her release, the PDP announced that Mehbooba Mufti would be addressing party workers on Friday.
“Party president Mehbooba Mufti would be addressing a press conference on Friday, 16th of October, 2020. Timing of the presser would be shared seperately,” the party tweeted.
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