Expressing concern over his failing health amid coronavirusoutbreak across the world, Jammu and Kashmir High Court Bar Association onMonday demanded the release of its incarcerated president Mian Qayoom and otherprisoners detained post August 5 in and outside J&K.
“The members of the Bar Association have shown their seriousconcern about the increasing number of the affected persons all over the globewhich runs in lakhs and in India also where the number is rapidly increasingwhich has caused serious apprehensions regarding the health of the people, whowere detained since August 5, 2019 and also prior to that, who have been lodgedin jails in and outside the J&K,” said the association, in a statementtoday.
It said the Bar Association under the circumstances feelsworried about the health of its ailing President Mian Abdul Qayoom, who isunder detention since August 4, 2019 and is presently in Tihar Jail, Delhi andas per the media reports Delhi being the capital of India, mostly remainsovercrowded with the people, as such is more vulnerable to Coronavirus(COVID-19).
“It was reiterated that as per the health condition of thePresident, who is in his advanced age surviving on single kidney and issuffering from various chronic ailments which include diabetes, hypertension,severe nerve damage, prostate and 60% blockage in one of the arteries of heart,he is more prone to the deadly virus.”
The members, while quoting the advisories issued by theHealth Ministry and doctors from time to time, said the virus is more dangerousfor the people with a weak immune system, elderly and ill.
“The Bar Association also showed its concern regarding thecontinuous detention of its General Secretary, Mohammad Ashraf Bhat, who isalso diabetic, suffering from various ailments,” said the members, in astatement.
They demanded the immediate release of political prisonersdetained within and outside J&K, especially its President and the GeneralSecretary, to avoid any mishap. “As such the J&K High Court Bar Associationdemanded and stressed upon the concerned authorities to release immediately andunconditionally its President and General Secretary without fail of time,”added the statement.