JKPA demands release of all political prisoners before Eid

Jammu: Jammu and Kashmir People’s Association demanded release of imprisoned political leaders, activists who were detained after August 5 last year. In a statement issued, Chairman JKPA Aquib Wani said that prolonged detention indicate that there is no room for political dissent and things are far away from normalcy as claimed by the authorities. Wani further added that scores of trade union leaders, lawyers, members of civil society are langusing in jails and many among them suffer from life threatening ailments who must be set free on humanitarian grounds. Aquib said that curbing dissent is very unfortunate and against the fundamentals of democracy.
Vice Chairman JKPA Rayees Chowdhary and Co-Ordinator Kashmir Syed Tajamul Imran termed release of Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah and other top cadre of politicians as selective and said that low profile activists are made suffer as their families are left starving with no earning hand left.
Tajamul said that “Hundreds of activists, including some teenagers, who are languishing in jails within and outside J&K must be released.” He also demanded fair trail opportunity to the imprisoned persons in order to give them a chance to defend themselves in the court.