Srinagar, May 10: Former minister and senior Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader Naeem Akhtar was on Monday afternoon released from detention after nearly five months.
However, Akhtar has been placed under house restrictions soon after his release today.
Naeem was detained on 21 December, 2020 and was lodged at MLA hostel in Srinagar. He was earlier placed under detention on August 05, 2019 and was released nearly after ten months in 2020.
Naeem Akhtar was handed over to Police Station Saddar today following which he was shifted to his residence in Humhama area in Srinagar outskirts.
PDP on welcomed the release of Naeem Akhtar and sought release of all political prisoners languishing in jails in and outside of J&K.
Urging authorities to release senior party leader and former party VP Sartaj Madni, Hanjura said given the prevailing health scare and lock downs it makes no sense for the government to keep Sartaj Madni under detention.
Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party President Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari also welcomed the release of Naeem Akhtar.
In a statement issued Bukhari said that “It has been our consistent demand that the government should release all political prisoners languishing in jails within and outside J&K given an unprecedented surge in COVID-19 cases in the country”.
He demanded that the Supreme Court directives for the release of prisoners to tide over the pandemic may be implemented by the J&K high-powered committee.
