Mehbooba urges Speaker to call special J&K Assembly session

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday urged Assembly Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather to convene a special session of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly to condemn the detention of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA from Doda, Mehraj Malik. She said a resolution passed by the Assembly could exert pressure on the Centre to release the legislator and ensure protection for all elected representatives against future targeting.

“I urge Hon’ble Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather to call a special Assembly session to condemn the PSA and arrest of MLA Mehraj Malik. A resolution can put pressure on the Central Government to release Mehraj Malik and protect all MLAs from future targeting,” Mufti said in a post on X.

Malik, who also heads AAP’s Jammu and Kashmir unit, was detained on Monday under the stringent Public Safety Act (PSA) and is currently lodged in Kathua jail.

Mufti said that while Malik is capable of fighting his legal battle, what he truly needs is a strong political stand, expressed through the Assembly.

“Also, CM @OmarAbdullah should extend legal aid to thousands of poor Kashmiris languishing in jails across India. They need it the most. Mehraj can fight his legal battle — what he needs is a strong political stand from the Assembly,” she added.

Speaking to reporters in North Kashmir’s Kupwara district, the former Chief Minister said the Assembly should have passed a resolution and forwarded it to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, clearly stating that such actions will not be tolerated.

“This would have created pressure for Malik’s release, and in the future, the Central Government would think a hundred times before invoking the PSA against any MLA. But unfortunately, that did not happen,” she said.