Srinagar, Sept 17: Former minister and senior Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader Naeem Akhtar said that he has been released from detention after 407 days on Thursday.
Taking to micro-blogging site Twitter Naeem, who was also official spokesperson of PDP-BJP coalition government said “ After 407 days of detention am informed that I am free to move about. Thank you rulers for small mercies while you inflict larger tragedies on our land”.
Naeem’s release came a day after administration allowed PDP to hold first party meeting on Wednesday since August 5, 2019, when centre abrogated Article 370 and 35 A besides divided the erstwhile state into two Union Territories (UTs). A day earlier on September 15 centre informed Parliament that no person is under house arrest in Kashmir. Earlier, PDP was not allowed to hold meeting on September 3 when all roads leading to party headquarter in Srinagar were sealed and leaders were not allowed to leave their houses. Naeem was also not allowed to attend party meeting yesterday.
However, there was no relief for former Chief Minister (CM) and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti who has been detained under Public Safety Act (PSA) in her house which has been turned into sub jail.
All mainstream leaders, including three former CMs—Mehbooba, Farooq Abdullah and his son Omar Abdullah—were detained on August 5, 2019.
However, Abdullah and Omar were released in March this year. However, majority leaders of NC, PDP and other parties were released from jail only to be put under house arrest though government maintained no person was under house detention.
