Srinagar, Feb 12: PDP president Mehbooba Mufti has welcomed the High Court’s decision barring authorities from denying passports solely on the grounds of an individual’s familial ties to a militant, calling it “a step in the right direction.”
Mufti criticized what she described as the systematic weaponization of fundamental rights in Jammu and Kashmir since 2019, particularly the right to travel. “There are countless cases pending in passport offices, awaiting clearance from the CID department,” she said, highlighting the bureaucratic hurdles imposed on ordinary citizens.
She further alleged that the practice extends beyond families of militants, affecting journalists, students, and job seekers. “Despite meeting all prerequisites for government positions, many are denied jobs based on negative CID reports. The status of the related militant—whether dead or alive—seems irrelevant,” she remarked.
Mufti also pointed to the broader scope of the policy, stating that even individuals remotely linked to Jamaat-e-Islami members have faced similar restrictions. The High Court’s ruling, she suggested, underscores the need to roll back such measures and uphold fundamental rights in the region.
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