Rameez Makhdoomi
Recently, noted human rights activist, Khurram Parvez has been booked under the infamous Public Safety Act (PSA).Sessions court in Srinagar had ordered the release of human rights activist Khurram Parvez, who was taken into preventive detention for allegedly posing an imminent threat of breach of peace, but he was later allegedly booked under the Public Safety Act.
While the state government has resorted to arrest spree, and profuse use of PSA to crush dissent and protest in wake of massive civil agitation 2016 in Kashmir , invoking PSA on world known human rights defender Khurram Parvez has come as shock for one and all.
Pertinently, Khurram is the Chairperson of Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD) and Program Coordinator of Jammu Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society (JKCCS). Khurram is a recipient of the prestigious 2006 Reebok Human Rights Award.
From Activists to Political voices all are aghast over slapping of PSA on Khurram Parvez.
While commenting on Public Safety Act being applied on Khurram Parvez; Sarah Hayat Shah , Additional Spokesperson of Jammu & Kashmir National Conference stated : ” The detaining of Khurram Parvaiz, globally acclaimed human rights defender is unfortunate . On the one hand the present government talks about “Digital India”, “Mann Ki baat” and on the other they are caging people who dare to speak. The same people once bragged about “Battle of Ideas” and “Agenda for Alliance”, and today they are chopping the wings of those who have an ideology of their own. This is so unfortunate. Democracy and denial to “Freedom of expression” can’t go together.”
Co-coordinating Ambassador (OYW) for Kashmir on Peace and Human Rights and eminent activist Shahzad Hamdani stated , “Slapping of PSA on Khurram Parvez has indeed highlighted the real face on Indian system which on one side highlight themselves as preachers of democracy and human rights but cannot digest those voices which are raised against the brutality unleashed by their forces in the valley. India should understand that slapping PSA on a Human Rights defender has brought shame to democratic credentials of Indian state which is now turning frustrated.”
Earlier, Fifty two top world academics, activists, lawyers and writers have issued an open letter appealing for immediate release of human rights activist Khurram Parvez .
Voices of sanity in unison are condemning detention of Khurram Parvez under PSA. Mushtaq ul Haq Ahmad Sikander, activist and writer stated – “ The slapping of PSA on noted human rights activist Khurram Parvez, is the worst form of state terrorism and a clear manifestation that state is turning totalitarian with least tolerance for dissent. The order of detaining Khurram under the draconian law makes it clear that state wants to make an example out of him to deter others from raising their voices against human rights violations. We all need to condemn and start a movement for promotion of dissent. The local feudalist political party People’s Democratic Party along-with Hindutva BJP have now decided to have no tolerance about dissent, freedom of speech, political opposition and human rights activism.”
PSA being used as a weapon to scuttle dissent is drawing sharp criticism from rights organizations to human rights defenders and masses.
