The Jammu and Kashmir government, on Wednesday, revoked the Public Safety Act (PSA ) on bureaucrat-turned-politician and Jammu and Kashmir People's Movement leader Shah Faesal and two PDP leaders.
Faesal, Sartaj Madni, who is the maternal uncle of PDP president Mehbooba Mufti, and Peer Mansoor were among the 50 plus political leaders who were detained after the revocation of Article 370 on August 5, 2019.
Faesal had topped the IAS in 2009 and held several important positions in Jammu and Kashmir before quitting his job and floating his own political party, J&K People's Movement, in January 2019.
He is the first Muslim in India to top the prestigious civil services examination. His success inspired many youngsters to take the civil service route at a time when many youths in Kashmir were joining militancy.
He had courted controversy for criticising the government for the civilian killings and rights abuse by security forces. He was highly critical of the government’s handling of the 2016 uprising that was triggered by the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Muzaffar Wani.
After quitting his job, he took up a course at Harvard University, and on his return, launched the political outfit along with former JNU student leader Shehla Rashid.
While most of detained political leaders were released in groups, the government continued to extend the former IAS officer’s detention along with a few other leaders under Public Safety Act (PSA) from time to time.
Reacting to the release of Faesal, Madni, and Peet, NC president Omar Abdullah tweeted, “Good to hear that Shah Faesal, Sartaj Madni, and Peer Mansoor have been released from an unjust PSA. Disappointed that Mehbooba Mufti, Ali Muhammad Sagar and Hilal Lone continue to be detained. It’s high time they are set free as well.”
