Srinagar, Sep 10. Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti on Wednesday urged the administration led by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to release those detained in connection with the Hazratbal shrine incident, along with sitting Doda MLA Mehraj Malik who is under detention.
Speaking to reporters in Srinagar, Mehbooba said the use of the Public Safety Act (PSA) against an elected representative was unjustified. “PSA is not warranted for a people’s representative even if he has used some offensive language against government officials. Such arrests erode democracy and restrict people from expressing themselves,” she said.
Mehbooba alleged that the arrest of Mehraj Malik was aimed at diverting public attention from the Hazratbal shrine incident. “The sitting MLA has been detained simply to shift focus. This approach is not democratic,” she remarked.
She further said that Jammu and Kashmir should draw lessons from Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Nepal, where, according to her, restrictions on people’s voices led to serious consequences. [KNT]
