Srinagar: In occupied Kashmir, the High Court Bar Association while terming the summoning of its President Advocate Main Abdul Qayoom by India’s National Investigation Agency as a surprise to the legal fraternity has said that the move is aimed at preventing him from pleading pellet gun case before Indian Supreme Court.
The Bar Association in a statement issued in Srinagar said, “It is also to prevent him from preparing case against challenge to Article 35A of the Constitution of India, pending before the court and pleading the cases of detainees before High Court in particular Aasiya Andrabi and others.â€
“The Bar Association strongly condemns the method and manner in which the NIA is conducting the investigation,†the statement added.
In Srinagar, scores of lawyers took out a protest march from the District Court complex at Moominabad, Batamaloo, to Jahangir Chowk. “We won’t resume work until advocate Mian Abdul Qayoom honorably returns home from New Delhi,†the protesting lawyers said. A protest rally was also taken out from the District Court to Main Market in Shopian, demanding immediate withdrawal of the notice against Qayoom.
Senior lawyer Zafar A Shah said the lawyers would continue to stay away from work until Qayoom returns with dignity to the Valley. “We feel that the NIA notice is not bona fide. It is the outcome of a design, of a conspiracy, to lower the credibility of our public men,†Shah told journalists.
In solidarity with Qayoom, the Bar has decided to send at least eight of its members to Delhi to accompany the Bar president. Meanwhile, the Bar has postponed its annual elections sine die. The elections were scheduled to be held, tomorrow.
On the other hand, Hurriyat leaders including Jammu and Kashmir Mass Movement President Farida Behanji, Tehreek-e-Muzahamat Chairman Bilal Siddiqui, Muslim Deeni Mahaz Chief Dr Muhammad Qasim Fakhtoo, Dukhtaran-e-Millat and Muslim League in their statements condemned the notice to Mian Abdul Qayyum
