Mehbooba Mufti, Peoples Democratic Party President on Thursday condemned the ban on JKHCBA (Jammu and Kashmir High Court Bar Association) elections, alongside the arrest of former HCBA President Mian Qayoom, labelling these actions as a brazen violation of democratic principles and the right to association.
According to Kashmir Media Service, Mehbooba Mufti took to his X account and wrote, “The ban on JKHCBA elections based on unsubstantiated allegations of secessionist ideology is a brazen violation of democratic principles & the fundamental right to association.”
“Preceded by the arrest of former HCBA President Mian Qayoom it is a concerted attempt to silent any & all forms of dissent. A pattern that we have seen repeated often since August 2019. There has been a vicious crackdown on every element & organisation of J&K’s civil society to instil a sense of fear,” she wrote.
“Demand an immediate & thorough explanation as well as rationale for both the election ban & Mian Qayoom’s arrest to ensure justice is done,” the PDP chief.
Pertinently, District Magistrate Srinagar issued an order on Tuesday suspending the JKHCBA elections, citing security concerns and potential unrest. The decision as per the order was taken after allegations from another advocate body and questions surrounding the JKHCBA’s registration status.
Hours earlier, Mian Qayoom was arrested by the Special Investigation Agency of Jammu and Kashmir Police in connection with the Advocate Babar Qadri murder case.—KMS