ISHFAQ TANTRY
SRINAGAR, FEB 21: The State Government Tuesday stated that it intends to operate the detention order passed against Hurriyat (G) Chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani in June 2010.
This was revealed in the status report filed by the Government in response to High Court directions wherein it had been asked to reveal the status of Geelnai’s parole.
Government has been maintaining that Geelani, who is presently not under detention, was released on parole, his counsel has been maintaining before the Court that the octogenarian leader never signed any parole prior to his release from detention in August 2010.
Following unrest in 2010, Geelani was arrested by the authorities on June 20, 2010 and booked under PSA. Subsequently, Geelani chose to challenge his detention under PSA by filing a habeas corpus petition before High Court through Advocate Mian Qayoom. However, when Qayoom himself was arrested and detained under PSA, his case was taken up by pleaded by advocate Zaffar Qureshi.
Though since then Geelani has been released, with Government claiming that his release was on parole, however, the petition is still pending disposal before the High Court.
Subsequently, on January 31, 2012, High Court gave State Government ten days time to file its response explaining the status of Hurriyat (G) Chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani’s parole. Interestingly, in its status report before the Court the State Govt. has revealed that it still intends to operate the order of detention passed against Geelani in June 2010.
As the matter came up before High Court Tuesday, Justice Hasnain Massodi asked the Govt. Counsel M.A.Thakur that the report filed by the State Govt. has raised many important questions.
“Do you want the keep the sword hanging on the petitioner’s neck by keeping his detention order passed in June 2010 alive”, Justice Massodi observed. At this point, advocate Mina Qayoom , representing Geelani submitted that from the Status report it is clear now that the Govt. wants to implement the detention order passed against him in June 2010. However, the Govt counsel wanted to be given more time to file the rejoinder, which was not granted by the Court. On the other hand, Qayoom chose not to file the rejoinder.
Subsequently, Justice Massodi ordered that the matter be kept on board for further hearing on February 23, 2011.
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