SRINAGAR – The authorities have allowed Iltija Mufti, the daughter of former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti, and other family members to visit the grave of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) founder Mufti Mohammad Syeed in south Kashmir district of Anantnag on his fourth death anniversary on Tuesday.
The development comes days after Miss Mufti wrote a letter to the Director SSG, seeking permission to visit the grave of Mr Syeed. However, Mehbooba Mufti, who remained under detention since August 5, would not be allowed to visit the grave of her father.
“Yes I received verbal communication from the authorities permitting us (Miss Iltija and her family) to visit the grave of Mr Syeed to pay our respect on his fourth death anniversary,” Miss Iltija told UNI.
Miss Iltija said she is hopeful that the authorities will stick to their decision and allow her family to visit the grave of her grandfather on this death anniversary.
Meanwhile, PDP has also sought permission from Divisional Commissioner Baseer Khan to visit the graveyard of the founder of the party. Sources said that Div Com has forwarded the letter to the Deputy Commission, Anantang and the SSP, seeking their inputs.
“My aunt has come from US and my uncle has also come… About 7 to 8 family members will be visiting the grave of Mr Syeed on Tuesday. We used to mark that day (death anniversary) by staying together and going to his grave and offer prayers there. This is going to be the first time that my mother (Ms Mehbooba) will not be there,” Miss Iltija said.
Miss Mufti was detained at her Gupkar residence on Thursday, when she was scheduled to visit the grave of Mr Syeed.
After her detention last week, Miss Mufti wrote a letter to the SSD Director, seeking permission to visit the graveyard on Tuesday.
She also asserted that she is seriously considering asking the Director SSG and Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to remove her security cover. “I am seriously considering writing a letter to the Director SSG and Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) asking them to remove my SSG cover because it has become a stick they keep beating me up with. They keep harassing me and I have had enough,” she had said.
“I didn’t want them (authorities) to say that I didn’t seek their permission to go to the grave of my grandfather to pay my respect on his fourth death anniversary. So I wanted to make sure that they allow us to go there because for us it is not an occasion we are going to politicize it is deeply personnel,” Miss Mufti said.
Three former chief ministers Mehbooba Mufti, Omar Abdullah and Farooq Abdullah were among dozens of mainstream political leaders who were detained on August 5, when centre abrogated Article 35 A and Article 370, besides bifurcated the state into two Union Territories – J&K and Ladakh.
Since then many leaders have been released on condition that they will not indulge in political activities that could lead to unrest in the valley. But, the top leadership of political parties, including former ministers and chief ministers, remained under detention.
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