Mehbooba Mufti questions Centre's decision to impose ban on Yasin Malik-led JKLF

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New Delhi: People's Democratic Party chief and former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Friday questioned the Centre government's decision to put a ban on Yasin Malik-led Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF).

Mehbooba took to Twitter and stated, "Yasin Malik renounced violence as a way of resolving J&K issue a long time ago. He was treated as a stakeholder in a dialogue initiated by then PM Vajpayee Ji. What will a ban on his organisation achieve? Detrimental steps like these will only turn Kash into an open-air prison." 

Yasin Malik renounced violence as a way of resolving J&K issue a long time ago. He was treated as a stakeholder in a dialogue initiated by then PM Vajpayee ji. What will a ban on his organisation achieve? Detrimental steps like these will only turn Kash into an open air prison. — Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) March 22, 2019

The Centre on Friday imposed a ban on Yasin Malik-led Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) under the anti-terror law. As per Union Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba, the ban was imposed on the outfit for alleged promotion of secessionist activities in Jammu and Kashmir. He said the organisation has been banned under various provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

Malik was arrested on February 22 in a late night raid, days after the Pulwama attack that claimed the lives of over 40 CRPF jawans. He was booked under the Public Safety Act and shifted to Jammu's Kot Balwal jail. This is the second organisation in Jammu and Kashmir which has been banned this month. Earlier, the Centre had banned the Jamaat-e-Islami Jammu and Kashmir.

The JKLF was involved in the kidnapping of Mehbooba Mufti's sister and the then Union Home Minister Mufti Mohammad Saeed's daughter Rubaiya Sayeed in December 1989. The then Prime Minister VP Singh had =released five JKLF terrorists in lieu of Rubiya. The terrorists set free were Pakistani terrorist Sher Khan, Abdul Hamid Sheikh, Noor Mohammad Kalwal, Altaf Ahmed and Javed Ahmed Jargar.

Malik was also involved in the killing of four IAF personnel besides several other acts of terror. The outfit, which had initiated a militant movement in Kashmir in 1988 and was involved in numerous acts of terror, had given up the use of the gun in 1994 but continued its separatist activities.

Gauba noted that JKLF was involved in the killing of Kashmiri Pandits, which resulted in their exodus from the valley in 1990. At least 37 FIRs have been registered by the Jammu and Kashmir Police against JKLF, two cases, including the case of a murder of IAF personnel, were registered by CBI. 

"The organisation is also responsible for illegal funnelling of funds for fomenting terrorism," said Gauba adding that JKLF has been "actively and continuously encouraging, feelings of enmity and hatred against the lawfully established government as well as armed rebellion."

(With ANI inputs)