J&K: Farooq Abdullah’s detention under PSA revoked after 7 months

Srinagar, Jammu And Kashmir —

The Jammu and Kashmir administration on Friday revoked the detention order of former Chief Minister and incumbent member Parliament (Lok Sabha), Dr Farooq Abdullah under Public Safety Act (PSA).

According to order (No. Home/PB-V/702 of 2020; Dated: 13-03-2020), the revocation of Farooq Abdullah’s detention has been ordered with immediate effect.

“In exercise of powers conferred under Section 19(1) of the Jammu and Kashmir Public Safety Act, 1978, the government hereby revokes the detention order bearing No. DMS/PSA/120/2019 issued by District Magistrate, Srinagar dated 15-09-2019 issued by District Magistrate, Srinagar, extended for a period of three months vide government order number Home/PB-V/340 of 2019 dated 13-12-2019 and then extended for a further period of three months of Dr Farooq Abdullah, son of Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah with immediate effect,” reads the order issued by Shaleen Kabra, Principal Secretary to Government.

It is pertinent to mention that the J&K Home Department’s order has only mentioned that his PSA detention has been revoked and therefore, it is still not clear whether the National Conference (NC) patron will be freed from detention completely to resume his political activities.

Meanwhile, talking to media at his Gupkar residence in Srinagar after his detention was revoked, the Member of Parliament (MP) said that he will prefer to maintain silence till the other incarcerated leaders are released.

In a four-minute interaction with media persons, Abdullah, while expressing happiness over his release, said that although he has been set free after seven months of incarceration, still it is not full freedom as many of the leaders are still under detention at different places including at MLA hostel.

He, however, said that he will not make any political statement over any issue till other leaders are released.

“I will go to the Parliament and will raise my voice there,” Dr Abdullah said.

Abdullah, along with other leaders including his son Omar Abdullah and PDP’s Mehbooba Mufti, was detained in August last year after the BJP-led government at the Centre abrogated the special status (Article 370) of the erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir State and bifurcated it into two Union Territories (J&K and Ladakh).

The former Chief Minister was later booked under controversial Public Safety Act, which the erstwhile State retained even after its transition into a Union Territory without a separate Constitution. His detention under the Act was extended two times before being finally revoked after seven months.