Will write to Dir SSG to withdraw my security cover, says Iltija; PDP holds prayer meet at head offices in Srinagar, Jammu, demand release of leaders, restoration of political activities Mausoleum
Owais Gul
Srinagar: Authorities on Tuesday didn’t allow the Muftis as well the party leaders to hold a prayer meet at the grave of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) founder and former chief minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed on his 4th death anniversary. However, the daughter of Late Mufti and former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Mehbooba Mufti continued to remain under detention since August 5.
According to the wire service—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the grand-daughter of Late Mufti according to her had been given permission to visit the mausoleum of deceased PDP founder.
However, this morning, authorities disallowed her to move towards the mausoleum of her grandfather.
Pertinently, Mufti died on January 7, 2016, as serving Chief Minister of then PDP-BJP coalition government in the erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir State. Unlike previous years, the prayer meeting on this day to pay tributes to the deceased leader was not allowed by the authorities today.
Talking to KNO, Iltija Mufti, daughter of incarcerated former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti said that she was not allowed to visit the mausoleum of her grandfather today. “The authorities had lied to me that I will be allowed to visit grave of my grandfather today. In fact, when I tried to meet the press, they manhandled me at the gate,” she alleged.
She further stated that she is now going to file an application to Director SSG, Munir Ahmad Khan to have her cover withdrawn because it has just become an excuse for them to harass her. “I don’t need to seek their permission. I only need to inform them that where I am going. I will write a letter to them tomorrow and if they will not remove my cover then I will have to speak to lawyer,” she added.
Meanwhile, a PDP leader told KNO that they had sought permission from the authorities to hold congregational prayer meeting at Mufti’s grave today, but unfortunately, the plea was turned down.
The party as per the sources held a prayer meeting at PDP headquarters in Srinagar as well in Jammu.
A function to pay tributes to the PDP founder Mufti Mohd Sayeed was held at the party head office in Srinagar where the leaders demanded release of the political leadership and restoration of the political activities without any further delay.
Senior leader Abdul Hameed Kosheen , Adocate Javaid Ahmad, Ab Qayoom Bhat, Bashir Ahmad Zone President Batamaloo, Ghulam Babi, Manzoor Ahmad Matoo, PDP Youth general secretary Mohsin Qayoom Haji Parvez and several others.
In order to pay tributes to Mufti Mohd Sayeed on his 4th death anniversary, party supporters, activists and leaders in droves congregated at the PDP head office in Jammu and highlighted late leader’s role in rejuvenating the hope for peaceful and tranquil Jammu and Kashmir.
Demanding immediate restoration of the political activities in Jammu and Kashmir, PDP while paying tributes to late Mufti said the vision envisaged by its founder will act as a guiding principle for the party’s future strategy.
Pertinently, the authorities, earlier, disallowed National Conference (NC) from holding a prayer meeting at the grave of party’s founder and former Chief Minister Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah in Srinagar on December 5 by enforcing restrictions in the area.
