Mirwaiz Umer Farooq on Friday claimed that the government was deliberately stalling pro-freedom leadership’s contact with people and such arbitrary measures won’t change the situation on the ground.
The authorities didn’t allow Mirwaiz to address Friday congregation at Jama Masjid in old Srinagar city of Kashmir, despite being informed that he was free to move out after almost 19 months, since 5 August 2019.
“On Thursday morning some officials came to inform me that I was not under house arrest. They even told me to update them about the route plan to Jama Masjid later,” Mirwaiz was quoted as saying by Economic Times. However, on Thursday evening, he was informed that he was again under detention and couldn’t go to Jama Masjid.
“I was looking forward to meeting and talking to people after such a long time. We are being deliberately isolated,” Mirwaiz told ET. He said that Hurriyat has nothing to hide and its principled stand and policy on Kashmir is absolutely clear. “We want a peaceful resolution of the core Kashmir issue. We believe in a dialogue process with all stakeholders,” said Mirwaiz.
The government had recently in the parliament stated that none in J-K was under house arrest. “If that is so why does Mirwaiz continue to be detained?” Hurriyat asked. The Hurriyat appealed to people not to lose hope and show patience and at no cost resort to any form of violent protest.
Mirwaiz was among hundreds of people including politicians, businessmen and activists who were detained or placed under house arrest to quell any protests in wake of the abrogation of special status of J-K and downgrading of the state into two Union Territories of J-K and Ladakh.
