After nine years of trail, a ‘militant’ commander turned Hurriyat leader, was acquitted of the alleged offence for which the accused was already cleared by Delhi court, years earlier. In jail for the past 20 years of the 23 years of militancy, Muslim League Chairman, Dr Muhammad Qasim (43) was booked by Kashmir police in 2000 under explosive substances act only to be acquitted by a local court in Srinagar on September 29.
“An FIR in Srinagar cannot be registered against the accused on the basis of the charges for which an FIR was already lodged in Delhi police station. It is in conflict with the provisions of law,” the counsels of the accused pleaded before 3rd Additional Sessions Judge. The argument was accepted. Qasim also called Ashiq Hussain Faktoo, serving a life sentence in a murder case has spent almost half his life in jail. Despite review board recommendations the state government’s home department headed by CM Omar Abdullah wants the prisoner to be in jail for ‘whole of his life’. He was arrested in 1993 over the “murder” charge of human rights activist HN Wanchoo. While denying the charge Faktoo maintained that he was being targeted for his political belief and was acquitted in the case by the TADA court Jammu in July 2001.