Kashmiri Lawyer Mian Qayoom Remanded in Police Custody Till July 1

Srinagar: Mian Abdul Qayoom, a former president of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court Bar Association (JKHBA), was on Wednesday remanded in police custody till July 1 by a court in Jammu.

Mr. Qayoom, one of the most prominent and well-known lawyers, was arrested by the police on Tuesday for his alleged involvement in the murder conspiracy of a fellow lawyer Babar Qadri in 2020.

80-year-old Mr. Qayoom who served as the president of the JKHCBA for twenty terms between 1986 and 2019 was taken into custody after the State Investigation Agency (SIA) “collected substantial evidence against him.”

The J&K police after producing him before a special court in Jammu requested a 15-day remand to interrogate him. But the judge during in-camera proceedings granted remand till July 1 only and directed that Mr. Qayoom be presented before a designated National Investigation Agency (NIA) judge, who is currently undergoing training, on Monday.

During the court proceedings, Mr. Qayoom claimed that he was not informed about the grounds of his arrest. However, the claim was challenged by the police, which informed the court that the entire proceeding had been video graphed and was part of the case diary.

The police have claimed that during the investigation, Mr. Qayoom emerged as the primary suspect behind the murder conspiracy of 35-year-old Qadri who shot to prominence mainly due to his frequently appearing in prime time shows and debates on Kashmir on various TV channels.

He was targeted by unknown gunmen at his home in Srinagar’s Hawal area on September 24, 2020. Sometime before his murder, Mr. Qadri had launched a political party called All JK People’s Justice Party and named himself as its president. Following this, the KHCBA had suspended his membership for showing “indiscipline.”

Days before his murder, Mr. Qadri, who had been a vocal critic of the JKHCBA leadership, particularly targeting Mr. Qayoom, had expressed concerns about his safety. In a Facebook video posted a few days before his killing, Mr. Qadri had accused Mr. Qayoom of stifling dissent and transforming the KHCBA into a mouthpiece for Mr. Geelani-led Hurriyat Conference faction.

Mr. Qayoom, known for his close association with Islamist and pro-Pakistan separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani who died at the age of 91 after prolonged illness on September 1, 2021, was earlier flown to Jammu from Srinagar. He was escorted under tight security to the district court complex in Jammu’s Janipur area.

Mr. Qayoom was shot at and critically wounded by two unidentified men at his Srinagar residence on April 22, 1995. He was incarcerated several times in the past including following the Centre stripped the erstwhile state of J&K of its special status and split it up into two Union Territories in August 2019. He has been often accused of being involved in anti-India political activities and openly supporting the separatist cause.

Meanwhile, Srinagar’s District Magistrate has, once again, imposed restrictions on the scheduled elections of the JKHCBA, citing concerns over public order and legality following a notification issued by association on June 11, 2024.

The DM has in his order said that the Kashmir Advocates Association raised objections regarding the legality and authenticity of the JKHCBA, alleging it promotes secessionist ideologies and operates as an unregistered entity. “They warned that conducting the elections could lead to disturbances and threaten public order,” he said, adding that in response to it he sought detailed reports from the SSP Srinagar and the Registrar of Societies Kashmir, who confirmed that the JKHCBA is not registered with their office.

The SSP’s report noted the JKHCB’s advocacy for a “peaceful settlement of the Kashmir issue,” labelling it as a secessionist group known for intimidating dissenters and aiding anti-national elements. End it