The Jammu and Kashmir government on Wednesday removed the Public Safety Act (PSA) imposed against Sartaj Madani and Pir Mansoor, two Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders along with former IAS officer and politician Shah Faisal.
Shah Faisal is the president of the Jammu and Kashmir People’s Movement (JKPM) and was taken into custody on August 5 last year, a few days after the central government repealed most of the provisions of Article 370 and removed the special status of Jammu and Kashmir.Faisal was intercepted on the intervening night of August 13 and 14 last year before flying to Istanbul at Delhi Airport and was taken back to Srinagar and taken into custody.
After the end of six months of custody in February this year, a case has been registered against them under Public Safety Act, which allows detention for a maximum period of two years. After this, his custody was extended till 14 May. There are two provisions under the PSA – public order and the security of the state. Under the first provision, a person can be detained for up to six months without trial and under the second provision a person can be detained for two years without trial.35 years old,Shah Faisal resigned from the post of IAS in January 2019 and formed the Jammu and Kashmir People’s Movement Party.
Many leaders, including former Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah, his son former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti were placed under house arrest in Jammu and Kashmir, eliminating most of the provisions of Article 370 of the Constitution for granting special status to Jammu and Kashmir. Apart from this, all the leaders were also taken into custody.
On March 24, the National Conference leader and former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah was released, removing the PSA. Earlier, Umar’s father and former Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah, who was detained under the PSA itself, was released on March 13.