Srinagar, July 31: The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Tribunal will hold two-day hearings in Srinagar starting tomorrow to review the Centre’s decision to declare the Awami Action Committee (AAC), led by Kashmir’s chief cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, as an “unlawful association” under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.
According to Registrar of the UAPA Tribunal, the sittings in Srinagar will be presided by Justice Sachin Datta of the Delhi High Court and it will take place at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC) on August 1 at 2 pm and will continue on August 2 from 11 am onwards.
In March this year the Ministry of Home Affairs banned two Jammu and Kashmir groups, Awami Action Committee and Jammu and Kashmir Ittihadul Muslimeen (JKIM) led by Mohammad Abbas Ansari for five years for their alleged anti-national activities, “supporting terrorism and fuelling secessionist activities”. Both the organisations were constituents of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference headed by Mirwaiz.
The Tribunal has issued a public notice inviting objections, evidence, and representations to review whether the government’s ban on an organisation as “unlawful” is justified.
The notice said that all those who are interested in giving evidence, were advised to file their affidavits at least three days before the date of hearing with the Registrar of the UAPA Tribunal.
“They shall remain present in-person on the above dates for their cross examination, if any, before the Hon’ble Tribunal,” the notice said.
The AAC, banned in March, was founded by Mirwaiz Mohammad Farooq in 1964. After his killing in 1990, the leadership passed to his son, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, when he was just 17. The AAC was founded during a period of intense unrest in the Valley following the disappearance of the Prophet’s relic. For decades, the AAC served as the principal opposition to the National Conference in Srinagar
