Geelani denounces continued arrest of detainees

Srinagar: Denouncing the continued detention of political prisoners under “inhumane” conditions, Hurriyat Conference (G) chairman, Syed Ali Shah Geelani Wednesday asked Amnesty International and other international rights groups to take serious notice of the issue and press New Delhi for the prisoners’ release.In a statement issued here, Geelani flayed the authorities for detaining Mohammad Ashraf Sehrai, Ghulam Nabi Sumjhi, Advocate Mian Qayoom, ‘General’ Moosa, Peer Saifuullah, Mehraj-ud-Din Kalwal, Asiya Andrabi and several other pro-freedom leaders despite their failing health.“The government is flouting its own rules by denying these political prisoners proper medical and other facilities guaranteed to them under jail rules,” Geelani said.He said most of the leaders were detained under “false cases and draconian laws” despite court orders to release them.“From New Delhi to Srinagar, everybody is doing politics over the release of political prisoners. Be it the Indian Home Minister P. Chidambaram’s 8- point formula or the recommendations of New Delhi’s interlocutors on Kashmir, promises were made to release these prisoners, but till date not even a single person has been released. On the contrary, a fresh wave of random arrests has been launched,” he said.Geelani also called for scrapping of Public Safety Act and other “draconian laws”.