I am hopeful about Mehbooba Mufti’s release soon: Farooq Abdullah

Srinagar: National Conference(NC) patron Farooq Abdullah has started consultation with party leadership to chalk out future strategy regarding various issues after the abrogation of the special status of J-K.

Dr Abdullah on Thursday held a meeting with four of the senior party leaders who were detained post the 5 August decision last year.
Dr Abdullah confirmed to a local news gathering agency  Kashmir News Service that he met four party leaders including NC’s General Secretary Ali Muhammad Sagar, provincial president Kashmir Nasir Aslam Wani, former minister Abdul Rahim Rather and senior leader Muhammad Shafi Uri, Mohammad Akber Lone, Hsanian Masoodi, Mohammad Syed Akhoon and several others at his residence.

On being asked whether Political issues were discussed in the meeting, he said, “various issues were discussed.”
He added he is meeting four more leaders who were detained last year tomorrow at his residence.

“Meeting with party leadership will continue. This way we can also check whether we are free now as claimed by the Government. I called seperate meetings in wake of Covid19 precautions,” he told KNS.

However, he ruled out calling it start of political activities by the party.

On a question about a meeting of various political leaders of different political parties called by him on 5 August, he said, “Unfortunately we were not allowed to meet on the day. Let the Government release all Political leaders including Mehbooba Mufti,then we will discuss future strategy. I am hopeful about her release soon,”

National Conference in a statement on Wednesday had said that party has taken cognizance of the stand taken by Government of J&K in High Court for detention of its senior party leaders and added party has called a meeting with such leaders on August 20 in order to expose the assertions of Government regarding their “illegal” confinement.

The statement reads,” it has taken cognizance of the stand taken by the Government in High Court in the Habeas Corpus matters filed by the President and Vice President of the party for securing the liberty of various leaders of the party that have been under an illegal house detention. “On a perusal of the reply the party has noticed that the Government has unequivocally submitted before the High Court that the no leader is under detention and that they are free to move subject to necessary security arrangements,” the party stated. (KNS)