Slapping of PSA on Malik: JRL calls for shutdown today

Srinagar: Calling for a complete shutdown on Friday, Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL) comprising of Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Muhammad Umar Farooq Thursday appealed people to stage protest post-Friday prayers against arrest spree, slapping of PSA on Muhammad Yasin Malik ban on Jamaat-e-Islami and attack on Article 35A.
JRL in a statement issued on Thursday, said, “Arbitrary arrest and detention of senior resistance leader and chairman JKLF Muhammad Yasin Malik and many others under draconian PSA and shifting of Yasin to Kot-balwal jail Jammu is the most condemnable act of the rulers.”
They said this spree of arrests, ban on Jamat-I-Islami and attempts to tinker with hereditary state subject law under the pretext of 35A and intimidating NIA raids on Kashmiris deserves stiff protest and resistance and people of Kashmir besides holding peaceful protests after Friday prayers will also observe a complete and comprehensive shutdown tomorrow on 8th March 2019.
Terming the spree of arrests, shifting of inmates to jails outside Kashmir, ban on Jamat-I-Islami J&K, attempts to tinker with the hereditary state subject law under pretext of 35A and other oppressive measures unleashed in Kashmir as ‘dictatorial’, JRL said that “today senior resistance leader and chairman of JKLF has been slapped with draconian PSA and shifted to Kot-Balwal jail Jammu.”
In similar manners, spokesman of Jamat-I-Islami advocate, Zahid Ali and many others have been booked under PSA and shifted to different jails. JRL said that “these arbitrary arrests and detentions can not deter resistance leaders and activists and the people of Jammu Kashmir from pursuing the path of resistance.”
“JRL’s incarcerated leader Muhammad Yasin Malik is a known heart patient who is suffering from many more ailments too. Callous and dictatorial mindset and approach of police and civil administration is such that they did not allow a leader of Muhammad Yasin Malik’s stature to meet his ailing mother and other family members and shifted him to Jammu in ruinous conditions,” he said.
JRL said that spree of arrests, booking young and old under PSA, shifting them to outside valley jails, banning of socio/religious organization Jamat-e-Islami, arresting its leadership and activists, attempts to fiddle with the hereditary state subject law under the pretext of 35A and intimidating NIA raids against Kashmiris are all evil designs of occupation that are actually an attempt to suppress Kashmiri voices for freedom and thus deserve our stiff resistance and protest.
They appealed people of Jammu Kashmir to observe a complete shut-down on Friday 8th March 2019, against these evil designs and oppression unleashed by India. Besides, this complete shutdown, people will hold a peaceful protest after Friday prayers against all these oppressive tactics.
Condemning mysterious blast at Jammu bus stand Thursday that besides injuring dozens of unarmed civilians has also taken the life of a civilian, JRL said that “attacks on unarmed civilians are the most reproachful act which should be condemned by all civilized humans.”
While praying for the speedy recovery of those injured in Thursday’s blast, JRL said that “our hearts go to those families whose kith and kin have lost their lives or got injuries in this blast and we express our solidarity with these families.”
Terming attacks on Kashmiris in Lucknow by some fascist goons, JRL said that “attacks on Kashmiri traders, employees, labor and students have not receded but are increasing at an alarming pace.” JRL condemned these attacks on Kashmiris and termed these as ‘most obnoxious’.