IIOJK High Court quashes PSA against Maqbool Butt’s brother
Srinagar: The High Court of Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir has quashed the detention under draconian Public Safety Act (PSA) of Zahoor Ahmed Butt, brother of the martyred Kashmiri
leader Muhammad Maqbool Btt, and directed his immediate release.
According to Kashmir Media Service, a resident of Mirpora, Thregam in Kupwara district, had been detained under the PSA since 2022 and was lodged in Karnal Jail, Haryana. The court’s decision came after Advocate Bashir Ahmad Tak, representing Butt, argued that the detention order was arbitrary and lacked substantial grounds.
Advocate Tak contended that the allegations in the detention order were fabricated and had no factual connection to his client. He further emphasized that the grounds of detention were vague, violating Butt’s rights to fair representation under the law. “The entire material forming the basis of the detention order was not provided to my client, rendering his representation ineffective,” Tak argued.
Justice Sanjay Dhar, after considering arguments from both sides, ruled the detention invalid.
“The detention fails to meet the legal standards required under the PSA, and the procedural safeguards appear to have been violated,” the court observed.
The High Court directed Butt’s immediate release.