Mehbooba Mufti was released on Tuesday night as the Union Territory administration revoked the Public Safety Act charges against her. This comes almost more than a year later as she was detained following the abrogation of special status of the erstwhile state.
“Mehbooba Mufti has apparently been released. Great news. She has been through a very tough time. Wishing her all the best,” Sajad Lone, president of Peoples Conference tweeted.
Mufti, 60, was initially detained on August 5 last year when the Centre abrogated special status of the erstwhile state and bifurcated it into two union territories — Ladakh, and Jammu and Kashmir.
She was in preventive detention for more than 14 months. She was first detained under Sections 107 and 151 of CrPC but later booked under the controversial Public Safety Act.
Initially, Mehbooba was lodged at Cheshma Shahi guest house and then shifted to another government guest house at M A Link Road here.
The PDP president was then taken to her residence where she remained under house arrest.
Reactions When Mehbooba Mufti Was Released
Mehbooba’s daughter, Iltija, had challenged her detention in the Supreme Court, which last heard the case on September 29.
Mufti’s daughter, Iltija Mufti, tweeted the news of her release.
“As Ms Mufti’s illegal detention finally comes to an end, Id like to thank everybody who supported me in these tough times. I owe a debt of gratitude to you all. This is Iltija signing off. May allah protect you,” she tweeted.
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National Conference leader Omar Abdullah welcomed the release of Mufti and termed her detention as “a travesty”.
The official handle of PDP tweeted that Mufti will address a press conference on October 16.
Mufti heads the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which was in power in Jammu and Kashmir in alliance with the BJP till June 2018. Initially, she was taken into preventive custody. Later on February 5 this year, she was slapped with the PSA along with Omar Abdullah, who was released in March. Farooq Abdullah had been released early last month.