Jammu & Kashmir
NIA court to deliver quantum of sentence for Yasin Malik today
New Delhi: A Special NIA court is likely to pronounce the quantum of punishment awarded for Kashmiri Hurriyat leader Yasin Malik today. Malik was convicted in a “militancy funding” case a few days ago.
On May 19, Special Judge Praveen Singh posted the matter for May 25 to hear the arguments regarding the quantum of punishment for the offences levelled against Malik.
The court also had directed the National Investigation Agency (NIA) authorities to assess his financial situation in connection with the “militancy funding” case prior to Wednesday’s hearing.
The accused is facing a maximum punishment of the death penalty, while the minimum sentence can be life imprisonment in the cases in which he is involved, news agency IANS reported.
Notably, in the last hearing, Malik had withdrawn his lawyer. As he pleaded guilty earlier, nothing was left to be heard during the course of the hearing.
Yasin Malik has been charged with “hatching a criminal conspiracy, waging war against the country”, other unlawful activities, and disturbing peace in Kashmir.
He had pleaded guilty in the matter. On the last date of the hearing, he told the court that he was not contesting the charges levelled against him, including section 16 (terrorist act), 17 (raising funds for the militant act), 18 (conspiracy to commit militant act), and 20 (being member of a militant organisation) of the UAPA and sections 120-B (criminal conspiracy) and 124-A (sedition) of the Indian Penal Code.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s former President Imran Khan said in a media interview that Mohammad Yasin Malik is a “freedom fighter”. He added that Malik can never be called a ‘terrorist’.
Earlier this week, the Prime Minister of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif vociferously condemned the Malik’s conviction and termed charges leveled by Indian court against the Hurriyat leader “fictitious and fabricated”.
The Senate of Pakistan also passed a resolution urging the international community to force India to drop all “fabricated charges” against all political leaders of Kashmir including Malik, and ensure their safety and well-being.
In a tweet, Sharif said, “Pakistan rejected India’s failed tactics against Yasin Malik, who was a symbol of unparalleled bravery and freedom”. He urged the international community, including the United Nations and the Human Rights Council, to take note of India’s extrajudicial measures.
The Pakistan PM said the government of Pakistan would highlight India’s actions against Malik and other Kashmiri leaders at all international forums, including human rights bodies and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.
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