Expressing concern over his failing health amid coronavirus outbreak across the world, Jammu and Kashmir High Court Bar Association on Monday demanded the release of its incarcerated president Mian Qayoom and other prisoners detained post August 5 in and outside J&K.
“The members of the Bar Association have shown their serious concern about the increasing number of the affected persons all over the globe which runs in lakhs and in India also where the number is rapidly increasing which has caused serious apprehensions regarding the health of the people, who were detained since August 5, 2019 and also prior to that, who have been lodged in jails in and outside the J&K,” said the association, in a statement today.
It said the Bar Association under the circumstances feels worried about the health of its ailing President Mian Abdul Qayoom, who is under detention since August 4, 2019 and is presently in Tihar Jail, Delhi and as per the media reports Delhi being the capital of India, mostly remains overcrowded with the people, as such is more vulnerable to Coronavirus (COVID-19).
“It was reiterated that as per the health condition of the President, who is in his advanced age surviving on single kidney and is suffering from various chronic ailments which include diabetes, hypertension, severe nerve damage, prostate and 60% blockage in one of the arteries of heart, he is more prone to the deadly virus.”
The members, while quoting the advisories issued by the Health Ministry and doctors from time to time, said the virus is more dangerous for the people with a weak immune system, elderly and ill.
“The Bar Association also showed its concern regarding the continuous detention of its General Secretary, Mohammad Ashraf Bhat, who is also diabetic, suffering from various ailments,” said the members, in a statement.
They demanded the immediate release of political prisoners detained within and outside J&K, especially its President and the General Secretary, to avoid any mishap. “As such the J&K High Court Bar Association demanded and stressed upon the concerned authorities to release immediately and unconditionally its President and General Secretary without fail of time,” added the statement.
