PDP offers legal assistance to JKLF, Jamaat-e-Islami to contest ban

Mehbooba Mufti-led People's Democratic Party has offered legal support to the recently-banned outfits of Jamaat-e-Islami (J-K) and Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF).

Addressing a gathering here on Tuesday, senior PDP leader Muzaffar Hussain Beig said, "We are ready to offer Jamaat-e-Islami and Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front legal assistance, whether in Jammu and Kashmir High Court or Supreme court, provided they trust us."

Last week, former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti had criticised the central government's decision to ban JKLF, which had kidnapped her sister Rubaiya Sayeed in 1989.

"YasinMalik renounced violence as a way of resolving J & K issue a long time ago. He was treated as a stakeholder in a dialogue initiated by then PM (AtalBihari) Vajpayee ji. What will a ban on his organisation achieve? Detrimental steps like these will only turn Kash (sic) into an open-air prison," Mehbooba had tweeted on the day when the central government had banned JKLF.

Centre had banned JKLF saying the outfit is actively engaged in inciting secessionism and illegal funneling funds for fomenting terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir.

In February this year, the central government had also banned Jamat-e-Islami for a period of five years.

Both the organisations were banned after being categorised as "an unlawful association under Section 3(1) of the Unlawful Prevention Act 1967", by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).

The government has launched a crackdown against 'separatist' elements in the valley in the aftermath of the Pulwama attack.