Srinagar, Apr 8: Stating that arrests can’t break his resolve to fight for Kashmir cause, the senior Hurriyat leader and the National Front Chairman Nayeem Ahmad Khan today said he was being punished for advocating right to self-determination.
Nayeem, who was brought before Court without handcuffs, said he was ready to face anything including gallows for his political beliefs and conviction.
While talking to reporters in Sadder Court premises, Nayeem rejected recent offer of Home Secretary, Government of India, for talks and said that international opinion was growing for resolution of Kashmir dispute in accordance with the wishes of Kashmiris. Nayeem described the Union Home Secretary’s statement as mere eyewash saying Pillai had no locus standi to speak on political issues.
On April 5, G. K Pillai had said that government was open to negotiate anything less than independence. Nayeem said that the Home Secretary was merely an employee of the Government. “It is Indian parliament which should talk about the political issues,” he said.
Nayeem was arrested on February 3, 2010 when he was under house arrest. On the same day he was taken to Kathua sub-jail. The government invoked Public Safety Act against him on February 11 and lodged him in Kotbalwal jail. However, Nayeem through the HCBA president Mian Abdul Qayoom challenged the PSA.
In one of its orders, a Single Bench of the High Court ordered that he should be shifted to Srinagar Centre Jail. Though the High Court passed the order on February 22, the government complied with it on March 1.

Lastupdate on : Thu, 8 Apr 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 8 Apr 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 9 Apr 2010 00:00:00 IST