The Jammu and Kashmir People’s Association demanded the release of imprisoned political leaders and activists who were detained after August 5 last year.
In a statement issued, Chairman JKPA Aquib Wani said that prolonged detention indicates that there is no room for political dissent and things are far from normalcy as claimed by the authorities.
Wani further added, “scores of trade union leaders, lawyers, members of civil society are languishing 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 the release of Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah and other top cadres of politicians as selective and said that low profile activists are made to suffer and their families are left starving with no earning support.
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 trial opportunity to the imprisoned persons in order to give them a chance to defend themselves in the court.