Srinagar, (CNI): All Parties Hurriyat Conference Chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Friday called for judicial intervention over the recent arrests of senior advocates in Kashmir.

 

He said it was incumbent upon the judiciary, including the judges, to take notice of this matter and intervene to do the needful.

 

Mirwaiz was addressing the Friday congregational prayers at the historic Jamia mosque in old Srinagar.

 

He expressed serious concern at the flurry of nocturnal arrests of senior functionaries and advocates of the High Court Bar association in the last few days, slapping of Public Safety Act on them, and sending them immediately to outside jails in this sweltering heat.

 

“There are reports in media that more such arrests will continue in the coming days. I wonder if lawyers are put behind bars who will fight people’s cases in court. Who will defend their judicial rights? In this situation it is incumbent upon the judiciary also, including the judges to take notice of this matter and intervene to do the needful,” Mirwaiz said.

 

In the last few weeks, four senior advocates have been arrested in Kashmir. They include two former Presidents Mian Qayoom and Nazir Ronga and General Secretary Mohammad Ashraf Bhat. While Mian Qayoom was arrested last month in connection with the murder of Advocate Babar Qadri in 2020, the other three lawyers were booked under the PSA- which allows detention without charge or trial up to six months, and makes bail difficult to obtain.

 

Mirwaiz said it was distressing for all that senior and reputed advocates who are an important part of the civil society are being treated in this authoritarian manner.

 

“Today it is the lawyers, tomorrow it will be other members of society which could be traders, shopkeepers, or ordinary people who can be detained in this manner,” he said.

 

He said one fails to understand what the authorities want to achieve by such actions except to instill fear among people and alienate them further.

 

“Instead of releasing thousands of political prisoners, journalists, youth, and others languishing in jails for years, more and more Kashmiris are sent to jails to fill them up,” he said.

 

Mirwaiz appealed to those in power and positions of power to discontinue the policy of arbitrary arrests show humanity and compassion in dealing with the people of J&K and release the lawyers.

 

The Hurriyat chairman said all matters can be addressed through dialogue instead of force.–(CNI)