Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir): Kashmir separatist leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, who was on Friday released after four years of house arrest since the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019, called for peaceful resolution of Jammu and Kashmir issue through dialogue. Mirwaiz while delivering his first Friday sermon at the Jamia Masjid in Srinagar in four years, said that Hurriyat believes that J&K's one part is in India while the rest two are in Pakistan and China, and by merging them fully J&K will be complete, which it was on 14 August 1947.
"Therefore, this issue needs to be resolved. J&K issue can be a territorial issue for many, but for the people of J&K it is a humanitarian issue," he said. Mirwaiz said that J&K "might be a territorial issue for many, but it is a humanitarian issue and must be resolved through dialogue". He said that despite advocating for peace, "it is unfortunate that he was branded as anti-national, anti-peace and separatist as well.
Earlier, a spokesman for the Anjuman Auqaf, the managing body of the Jamia Masjid while said that senior police officials from the district visited the residence of Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Thursday evening and informed him that the authorities have decided to release him from house arrest. The police officers further informed the leading cleric that he can lead the Friday prayers at the historic Jamia Masjid in downtown Srinagar today, sources said.
Also read: J-K High Court issues notice to administration over house arrest of Mirwaiz Umar Farooq
The release of Mirwaiz Umar Farooq comes a week after the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh has issued a notice to the Jammu and Kashmir administration over his continuous house arrest since August 2019 when the BJP government at the Centre abrogated the Article 370 which gave special status to the erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir state and divided it into two union territories of J&K and Ladakh.
The single-bench of Justice Rajnesh Oswal had admitted the plea (WP(C) - 2400/2023) filed by the senior advocate N. A. Ronga representing Mirwaiz Umar Farooq. The High Court directed the Chief secretary of Jammu and Kashmir to file Jammu and Kashmir's administration's response within four weeks while fixing Oct 4 as the next hearing date.
The lawyer representing Mirwaiz said that the petitioner had been detained/house arrest at his Nigeen residence “without any order or authority in law”. “The separatist leader has filed a writ petition in the high court seeking an order, or direction, upon the respondents (J&K administration) to release the petitioner from illegal and unauthorised detention," Advocate Ronga said.
The release of Mirwaiz comes days after Waqf Board Chairperson and BJP leader Darakhshan Andrabi visited Jamiat Ahli Hadees cleric Moulana Mushtaq Ahmad Veeri in south Kashmir after he and another leading cleric Moulana Abdul Rashid Dawoodi were released from Central Jail.
Former Chief Ministers react: Regarding the release of Mirwaiz, two former Chief Ministers of Jammu and Kashmir - Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti welcomed the release of Mirwaiz Umar Farooq. In a post on social networking website X, former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir and Vice President of National Conference, Omar Abdullah said, "I have requested the Jammu and Kashmir administration to release Mirwaiz Umar Farooq from detention. I welcome the step taken. I hope they allow him to walk freely, interact with people and resume his social/religious responsibilities."
He added, "Today, the eyes of Kashmir will be on Mirwaiz when he will deliver his Friday sermon at the Jamia Masjid for the first time since 2019." People's Democratic Party chief and former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti also welcomed the release of Mirwaiz but did not miss the opportunity to taunt Jammu and Kashmir Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha.
"Finally, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq's detention has been lifted," she said in his statement on X. "This was possible after years of denial by the LG administration regarding his detention. As a religious leader, he is held in high esteem among Muslims across Jammu and Kashmir. Unfortunately, a battle has started between various political organizations affiliated to the BJP to take credit for his release," she added.
