Srinagar, Apr 19: The Jammu and Kashmir Crime Investigation Department (CID) has cleared the passport of the wife and son of United Jihad Council (UJC) chief Syed Salahuddin for performing Hajj.
The CID clearance came after the personal intervention of the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, highly placed sources told Greater Kashmir.
According to sources, Taja Begum wife of Muhammad Yousuf Shah alias Salahuddin and their son Shaid Yusuf had applied for passport for performing Hajj, which was not issued till date because of pending CID clearance. “However, the Chief Minister directed the CID officials to clear the passport applications, immediately after the matter was brought to his knowledge”, sources said.
It was reliably learnt that the Chief Minister intervened in the matter after he was convinced that the applicants intended to visit abroad “purely for the purpose of performing their religious duties”.
The Jammu and Kashmir government had issued instructions in February 2009 that the relatives and family members of the militants shall not be denied the passport if it is established that the proposed travel out of the country is purely for personal purpose and not for any political or other activities.
Omar had also announced on the floor of the Legislative Assembly, during the recently concluded budget session, that the passport would no more be denied to the relatives of the militants if the track record of the aspirants was clear.
The state government, sources claimed, has, during the year 2009-10, cleared passport applications of more than 600 such applicants who are the relatives of the persons, directly or indirectly involved in militancy. “More such cases were being evaluated and the process was going on”, they added.
This is the second time in last six months that the Chief Minister has personally intervened in the matter. Earlier, the he had intervened in issuance of passport to a young Kashmiri footballer, who was denied the travel document by the state government as his father was found to be involved in militancy. The applicant, Shabir Ahmed, was a budding soccer player and had to visit Spain to pursue a specialized coaching programme.
Passports to the children of a Hizbul Mujahideen militant Ali Muhammad Dar alias Burhan-ud-Din Hijazi were also issued to enable them to go abroad for higher studies in the medical field.
Travel documents of a young female Rugby player Salihah Yousuf daughter of JKLF leader Muhammad Yousuf Sheikh was also cleared in March 2009 to allow her to represent the country at World Junior Championship in Bangkok. “Even a former militant was also issued passport to go to Pakistan for kidney transplantation”, sources claimed.

Lastupdate on : Mon, 19 Apr 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 19 Apr 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 20 Apr 2010 00:00:00 IST