Srinagar: In occupied Kashmir, the High court Bar Association staged protest against slapping of draconian Public Safety Act on detainees including the elderly people in violation of law.
Addressing a host of Bar members who had gathered outside the High court complex in Srinagar to lodge protest against slapping of the PSA, Bar president Mian Abdul Qayoom said that the detainees were booked on false grounds.
“When court quashes PSA detention of a detainee he is booked again on the same grounds on which he was booked earlier,†Qayoom said, adding there is no rule of law, “When we challenge the order the High Court quashes it and says release them but they are booked again,†the Bar President said.
Citing examples of 76-year old Sheikh Muhammad Yousuf and 75-year old Muhammad Subhan Wani of Sopore, Qayoom said, “They have been booked under PSA again after court quashed their PSA detention.†He said detention of 70-year old Haji Muhammad Rustum Butt and 65-year old Muhammad Shaban Khan of Sopore was quashed by the court but they were not released. “There are thousands of such examples,†he said.
Masarrat Aalam, the Bar president said, was booked under PSA for 35 times and “despite court quashing all his detentions he is still in jail.†Qayoom said despite the fact that Prisoners Act and J&K jail Mannual maintain that life imprisonment is 20 years, Dr Muhammad Qasim Faktoo is in jail.“ He has already served the sentence,†Qayoom added.
