Mehbooba holds protest in Srinagar, seeks return of Kashmiri prisoners from outside jails

Former J&K Chief Minister and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president on Monday (August 25, 2025) urged Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to constitute an all-party body that visits the jails where Kashmiri prisoners are lodged across the country, “to know their conditions”.

“As a mother and a sister, I appeal to Mr. Abdullah to form an all-party committee, which will visit Kashmiri prisoners lodged in jails outside J&K. Mr. Abdullah should meet the Union Home Minister and push for prisoners’ return to J&K for fast trial and ensure easy access to families. If not all-party committee, Mr. Abdullah should name senior Ministers to visit these jails,” Ms. Mufti said.

Ms. Mufti made the statement after holding a protest at party headquarters in Srinagar’s Lal Chowk. The party leaders alleged the police heckled Ms. Mufti when she was on the way to join her supporters. 

“They (police) tried to stop the peaceful protest as if we were enemies. Had they (police) stopped perpetrators of the Pahalgam attack, the war between India and Pakistan could have been avoided,” Ms. Mufti said, on the police action.

Meanwhile, the PDP has pitched for urgent reforms “to ensure fair defence and regular family access” to prisoners. It demanded speedy and time-bound trials, “so liberty is not lost to endless delays”. “Mandatory production of accused at every hearing, affirming open and fair justice,” the PDP said.

Pitching for ‘Bail, not Jail’ as the rule in line with constitutional safeguards, the PDP called for transparent application of remission in life-term cases, without bias or discrimination. 

“Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, convicted of rape and murder, is out on parole but no such concessions are provided to Kashmiri prisoners. No parole and furlough as legal rights, vital for reform and reintegration, are offered to them,” Ms. Mufti said.

Highlighting the cases of incarcerated Democratic Freedom Party chief Shabir Shah and Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) chief Dr. Abdul Hameed Fayaz, “Ms. Mufti said the families of these prominent prisoners had to approach courts for the treatment of Mr. Shah and Mr. Fayaz, who have developed serious illnesses. Medical bail is a humanitarian necessity, not a matter of discretion. Full implementation of jail manuals to protect dignity and uphold prisoners’ rights,” Ms. Mufti said.

Ms. Mufti said most of the prisoners held in jails outside J&K were accused and not convicts. “A youth from Pulwama is facing a trial as an accused for the past 10 years. Many face dire situations inside jails, especially those who belong to poor families,” she added.

Commenting on the PDP protest over prisoners, J&K CM Abdullah said, “Protests in Srinagar won’t change anything, as key decisions on J&K are taken in Delhi. Better if Ms. Mufti had raised the issue with Delhi.”