Mehbooba urges CM Omar to push for shifting J&K prisoners to UT jails

Srinagar, Aug 25: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president and former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Monday made a fervent appeal to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah and press for the shifting of Jammu and Kashmir prisoners back to jails within the Union Territory.Addressing a press conference at the PDP headquarters after she was allegedly barred from leading a peaceful protest, Mehbooba said: “Not as a politician or as the president of PDP, but as a sister, a mother and a daughter, I appeal to the Chief Minister to meet the Home Minister and tell him that if he cannot set free the prisoners, at least shift them to J&K. If there is any need of our help, we are ready.”She highlighted the plight of inmates languishing in prisons outside J&K, many of whom have not been convicted but continue to face endless trials without bail or parole. “There are prisoners who have developed serious ailments while their families, especially the poor, struggle to even visit them. I know a person from Pulwama who has been behind bars for the last ten years without his crime being established,” she said.Questioning the disparity in the justice system, the PDP chief said: “Our prisoners aren’t able to get bail or parole while rapists like Gurdeep Singh walk out on bail in no time.”  Mehbooba recalled that the PDP, despite having only three MLAs in the Assembly, had earlier brought a resolution seeking the return of prisoners from outside jails to the Union Territory, but it wasn’t entertained.Calling for urgent action, she suggested an All-Party Delegation should visit prisons housing J&K inmates. “If that is not possible, at least send three ministers to jails outside J&K to see their condition themselves,” she added. Earlier, Mehbooba Mufti led a protest march from the party headquarters but was stopped by police and forced to return. PDP leaders and activists carried placards with slogans such as “Bail, not Jail” and “Roll back UAPA and PSA”.