The Centre on Monday constituted a tribunal, headed by a judge of the Delhi High Court, for adjudicating if there is sufficient ground for declaring the Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party (JKDFP), headed by jailed separatist Shabir Ahmad Shah, as an unlawful organisation.
The Union Home Ministry on October 5 had declared JKDFP a banned group under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 for five years for its "anti-India" and "pro-Pakistan" activities. In a notification, the home ministry said, "The central government hereby constitutes the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Tribunal consisting of Justice Sachin Datta, Judge, High Court of Delhi, for the purpose of adjudicating whether or not there is sufficient cause for declaring the Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party (JKDFP) as an unlawful association," a home ministry notification said.
Founded in 1998 by Shah, the JKDFP was a constituent of the separatist amalgam Hurriyat Conference.
After the division of the Hurriyat Conference in 2003, the JKDFP became a part of the hardline faction headed by Syed Ali Shah Geelani then. 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.
He has also been chargesheeted by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in a terror-funding case. In November last year, the ED had attached his Srinagar house in connection with its money laundering probe linked to a case of fuelling terror activities in the Union territory.
While declaring JKDFP a banned organisation, the home ministry had said Shah called Kashmir a "dispute" and ruled out any settlement within the framework of the Constitution of India and the members of his party have been at the forefront of secessionist activities with an intention to create a separate Islamic state.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Featured Video Of The Day
SpiceJet Gets Notice From Law Tribunal Over Insolvency Plea From Creditor Tenure Of Arbitral Tribunal Can Be Extended Even After Its Term Expires: Supreme Court Another Complaint Filed Against Sheikh Hasina In Bangladesh "War Can End Tomorrow If...": Netanyahu's Message After Killing Of Yahya Sinwar Drone Footage Of Hamas Chief Yahya Sinwar's Last Moments Released By Israel In Big Relief For Sadhguru, Top Court Dismisses Case Against Isha Foundation Sangh's Call For Collective Strength And United India Supreme Court Upholds Anticipatory Bail To Prajwal Revanna's Mother Baby Dies, 65 Rescued After Migrant Boat Sinks Off France Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.