The National Investigation Agency (NIA), on Monday, arrested Kashmir’s leading rights activist Khurram Parvez.
The NIA, assisted by J&K Police, carried out searches at his house in Sonwar and at his office in Amira Kadal. The internationally acclaimed rights activist was then questioned at the NIA office at Church Lane in Dal gate.
The agency confiscated Parvez’s phone and laptop.
By 6pm, his family was asked over the phone to bring his clothes to the agency office. His wife and son handed over his clothes to the officials. According to sources, the family was given the arrest memo, and Parvez is likely to be flown to New Delhi on Tuesday.
Parvez’s house was also raided by the NIA last October.
Parvez is the chairperson of the Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD) and the programme coordinator of Jammu Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society (JKCCS). He had lost a leg in a landmine blast while monitoring the 2004 Parliamentary elections.
He was arrested in 2016 under Public Safety Act when he was to travel to Switzerland to participate in the Human Rights Council Session and was released after more than two months.
Rights activist and chairman of International Forum for Justice Human Rights, Muhammad Ahsan Untoo, condemned Parvez's arrest and urged the government to ensure that rights activists are allowed to work freely and without harassment.