Srinagar: The Government of India on Thursday declared Jammu & Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party (JKDFP) headed by jailed separatist leader Shabir Ahmad Shah as an unlawful association for five years for its “anti-India” and “pro-Pakistan” activities, according to an official notification.
Mr. Shah is currently lodged in Delhi’s Tihar Jail. He was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on July 25, 2017, in a 2005 money laundering case.
In a notification, the Central Government declared the Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party (JKDFP) as an unlawful association in the exercise of powers vested with it under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.
Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party was formed in 1998 by Shabir Ahmad Shah, who is currently in jail.
In the notification, the government of India led by PM Narendra Modi said that the founder of the JKDFP had called Kashmir a ‘dispute’ and ruled out any settlement within the framework of the Constitution of India.
According to the MHA, “the members of the JKDFP have been at the forefront of secessionist activities in Jammu and Kashmir and want to create a separate Islamic State.”
It further says that the JKDFP and its leaders or members, particularly its founder Shabir Ahmad Shah, have been indulging in unlawful activities, which are prejudicial to the integrity, sovereignty, security and communal harmony of the country.
It states that the “JKDFP and its members have been involved in violent terrorist activities with the intent to create a reign of terror in the country, thereby endangering the security and public order of the State, and its anti-national activities also show disrespect and disregard for the constitutional authority and sovereignty of the State.”
According to the notification, the government said that if there is no immediate curb or control of unlawful activities of the Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party, it will use this opportunity to continue with the anti-national activities that are detrimental to the territorial integrity, security and sovereignty of the country.
(KNO)
