Apni Party President Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari, on Friday, welcomed the release of two prominent religious leaders in the valley, Moulana Abdul Rashid Dawoodi, the head of Tehreek-e-Sout-ul Auliya, and Moulana Mushtaq Ahmed Veeri, who is affiliated with Jamiat-Ahle-Hadees (JaH). Pertinently, the J&K High Court today quashed the detention orders of both the Muslim clerics, who were booked under the Public Safety Act in September last year and lodged at Kot Bhalwal jail in Jammu.

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In his statement issued to Asian News Hub (ANH), Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari expressed his satisfaction with the release of Moulana Dawoodi and Moulana Veeri, and said, “It brings me immense pleasure that the honorable High Court has ordered the release of these prominent religious leaders, who hold a significant following across the Valley. Their release is highly commendable.”

Reiterating his demand for the release of other religious leaders such as Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Moulana Manzoor, Apni Party president said, “I request the LG Administration to consider the release of Mirwaiz Sahib and Moulana Manzoor as well.”

“These religious leaders wield remarkable influence over the people and can play a pivotal role in helping to eradicate social evils, especially the fast-spreading issue of drug abuse in the Valley” . He added.

Former Member of Parliament, Fayaz Mir has disassociated himself from People’s Conference and said no active politics due to personal reasons.

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Mir on X wrote,”To all my people,I would like to inform that due to some family commitments I have decided to keep myself away from active political engagements. Thankful to all my people for their support.”

Mir had joined the People’s Conference in August 2021 after leaving PDP. If sources are to be believed, Mir is likely to join PDP back.

In the last assembly election, Fayaz Ahmad Mir secured 24603 votes from Kupwara Assembly segment but lost to PC’s Bashir Ahmad Dar by a wafer-thin margin of 151 votes.

Mir, was a former MP of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from north Kashmir. KDC

On Wednesday, Iltija Mufti was appointed as media advisor to People’s Democratic Party (PDP) President Mehbooba Mufti.

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Iltija has been in charge of Mehbooba Mufti’s social media handles since 2019 when Jammu and Kashmir’s mainstream leaders were under arrest, the statement reads. “She emerged as a leading voice and a vociferous critic of Centre’s decision to abrogate Article 370 at a time when mainstream leaders were put behind bars,” reads the statement issued to media.