Mehraj Malik can attend assembly if court or govt permits: Speaker Rather

Srinagar, Oct 03: Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather on Friday said it would be a welcome step if incarcerated legislator Mehraj Malik attends the upcoming Assembly session, but clarified that the decision lies with the court or the government.

Speaking to the news agency Kashmir News Trust in Srinagar, Rather stated that Malik would need to seek permission through legal channels. “He needs to approach the court and if the government allows him, he should attend. It depends on whether the government or the court permits him,” the Speaker said.

On the issue of PDP legislator Waheed Parra, Rather confirmed that the show-cause notice issued against him is still under examination. “Parra has submitted his reply, and the matter is under consideration,” he said. The Speaker added that Parra had earlier spread misinformation claiming that the Assembly Secretariat had approved the Public Safety Act (PSA) against the Doda legislator, which, he clarified, was incorrect. “The Secretariat does not have such powers. PSA is imposed by the District Magistrate,” Rather asserted.

Responding to questions on the upcoming Assembly session, the Speaker said it will be a shorter session and that a provisional calendar will be issued shortly. [KNT]