Kashmir interlocutors visit Shah’s residence

Srinagar Oct 23:: The newly appointed team of Kashmir interlocutors has voiced serious concern over the deteriorating health condition of the incarcerated Hurriyat leader Shabir Ahmed Shah who was illegally detained by Indian authorities under the infamous Public Safety Act (PSA). 

The interlocutors who visited the Shah’s residence at Rawalpora Srinagar on Monday also met his ailing mother and inquired about her health. Besides the family members, M Abdullah Tari the acting president of DFP and other party leaders were present on the occasion.

During the interaction, the three member delegation comprised Dilip Padgaonker,Madam Radha Kumar & M M Ansari showed great concern about continuous detention and the falling health of the incarcerated leader. Speaking on the occasion Tari briefed the delegates about the prevailing political situation and stressed the need for resolving the dispute in line with Kashmiris aspirations. He said that Kashmir was a political dispute that needs to be addressed peacefully through a time-bound, meaningful and result-oriented dialogue. He however maintained that  Kashmiris were the principle party to the dispute.

Later, Padgaonkar told media persons that the team had gone to inquire about the ailing mother of Shah.

Shah’s wife Dr Bilquees told Greater Kashmir that she explained to the team that Shah had been detained under PSA for eight times in past two years.

“Government was inhumanly treating Shah Sahab and the Chief Minister had no powers to take any decision independent of New Delhi,” Bilquees said in response to a question by interlocutors whether state government was not looking seriously into the case.

“He (Shah) has been pioneer of dialogue and communal harmony, and has spent more than 25 years in jail. Why should we accept New Delhi’s decision that Shah should be released only keeping in view that his mother is ill? What crime has he committed? I told them that despite quashing of detention order under PSA by the High Court, he was never released,” Dr Bilquees said.

Rejecting the release of Shah on parole, Dr Bilquees said she told Padgaonkar that Shah was not a criminal so that he would have to report to district magistrate in case he moves out of Srinagar. “There can be nothing more humiliating than this,” she said.

She said Padgaonkar assured her that he would take up the matter with state and central government.

Meanwhile, in a condolence meeting at the party office in Srinagar, the DFP expressed deep sorrow and grief over the demise of the mother of Mir Asrar Hussain of Ghantamullah Baramullah. (with inputs from GK)