Srinagar, Nov 12(KNS): The Jammu and Kashmir Police have ordered the attachment of the residential property of senior lawyer and former Bar Association president Mian Abdul Qayoom in Srinagar under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) in connection with a 2009 case related to alleged anti-national activities.
According to official documents a copy of which lies with KNS, the action follows an FIR (No. 157/09) registered at Police Station Shaheed Gunj under Sections 120, 120-B, 121, and 153-A of the Ranbir Penal Code, along with Sections 13, 38, and 39 of the UAPA.
The case dates back to December 31, 2009, when the police received information that on the death anniversary of Mohammad Ali Jinnah, a seminar was organized at Hotel Jahangir, Srinagar, by separatist leaders led by Feroz Ahmad Khan, vice chairman of the Muslim League.
The event was attended by several separatist figures, including Aasia Andrabi, Shabir Ahmad Najar (District President, Muslim League), and Mian Abdul Qayoom, who allegedly delivered anti-India speeches and raised slogans calling for the imposition of Islamic law in Jammu and Kashmir.
During the investigation, statements from witnesses were recorded, indicating that the participants of the seminar had delivered inflammatory speeches and raised anti-national slogans, urging the audience to support the secession of Jammu and Kashmir from India.
Subsequently, a search of Mian Abdul Qayoom’s residence at Bulbul Bagh, Barzulla, was conducted after obtaining a warrant from the competent court. During the search, police said they recovered incriminating materials, including banned literature, a blank letterhead and seal of Hizbul Mujahideen, a press note-like document of the outfit, a letter from Syed Salahuddin addressed to then US President Bill Clinton, and a seal impression of Hizbul Mujahideen in Urdu.
Following these recoveries, the police invoked additional Sections 38 and 39 of UAPA in the case. The investigation concluded that the accused had allegedly used his residential premises—comprising a two-storeyed house on land measuring 2 kanals, 1 marla, and 90 square feet—for concealing incriminatory material and facilitating terrorist activities.
Officials stated that the property, registered under mutation number 338 in the name of Mian Abdul Qayoom, qualifies as “proceeds of terrorism” under Section 2(g) of the UAPA.
Accordingly, under Section 25 of the Act, prior approval has been granted for the attachment of the said house and land located at Bulbul Bagh, Barzulla, Srinagar.
The case remains under investigation at Police Station Shaheed Gunj.(KNS).