Mehbooba urges LG to release MLA Malik, withdraw Hazratbal FIR

Srinagar

PDP president Mehbooba Mufti on Wednesday accused the Jammu and Kashmir administration of making AAP MLA Mehraj Malik a scapegoat to divert attention from the Hazratbal emblem controversy. Speaking to reporters at the party headquarters, the former J&K chief minister said that the incident at Hazratbal had hurt religious sentiments, but instead of addressing the issue, the authorities chose to target those who expressed anger over the desecration.

Religious feelings were hurt at Hazratbal. Rather than taking action against the Waqf Board and its chairperson or issuing an apology, a case has been registered against individuals who raised their voices, she said. Mehbooba acknowledged that Malik, the MLA from Doda, may have used strong or abusive language but argued that booking an elected representative under the Public Safety Act (PSA) appears to be a deliberate move to shift attention away from the Hazratbal incident.

The PDP chief also pointed out that Doda was struggling with the aftermath of recent heavy rainfall, and instead of focusing on relief efforts, the administration chose to take action against the MLA. This raises serious concerns about law enforcement in Jammu and Kashmir, she added.

Mehbooba appealed to the Lieutenant Governor to release Malik and withdraw the FIR related to the Hazratbal case. While the MLA may have spoken harshly, jail or PSA is not the solution. Suppressing people’s voices or curbing freedom of expression will only worsen the situation, she said.

She further warned that ignoring public sentiment could lead to unrest, drawing parallels with situations in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Nepal. Mehbooba urged the LG to take note of the ground reality, restore calm, and ensure that justice is served by releasing MLA Malik and withdrawing the FIR in the Hazratbal matter.