MLAs demand shifting Shabir Shah, other ailing prisoners to Kashmir

Srinagar, Oct 29: The legislators on Wednesday raised the issue of the deteriorating health condition of Democratic Freedom Party (DFP) President, Shabir Ahmad Shah lodged at Tihar Jail.

Speaking during the Zero Hour in the Legislative Assembly, CPI (M) Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) Kulgam, Muhammad Yusuf Tarigami, said that the Kashmiri prisoners lodged at different jails outside J&K should be shifted to Kashmir.

“I received a distressing call from the family of Shabir Ahmad Shah, who is lodged in a jail outside J&K. They demanded that the issue about his deteriorating health be raised in the Assembly,” Tarigami said.

He said that the Kashmiris lodged at different jails outside J&K be shifted to jails in Kashmir “if it is mandatory to keep these prisoners in jails.”

Later, Peoples Conference (PC) President and MLA Handwara, Sajad Gani Lone, also raised the issue.

He said that Shah’s health had deteriorated and he was not able to manage day-to-day affairs.

“Shabir Shah was not a militant. He was a political leader. Imagine if anyone among us were not able to stand up without support, how would our family respond,” Lone said.

However, he acknowledged that the Home Department was not under the domain of the J&K government and urged the House to take cognisance of the deteriorating health of prisoners lodged in outside jails.

“I hope this Assembly will take note of it,” Lone said.

He said that besides Shah, other jail inmates were also facing health issues.

The family of Shah, who was arrested in 2017 and has since been languishing in Tihar Jail, had said that he is facing health issues which need specialised medical treatment.