New Delhi: National Investigation Agency of India on Wednesday sought the death penalty for Yasin Malik, a Hurriyat leader from Jammu and Kashmir.
However, the NIA court reserved the order and will pass judgment on sentencing today itself at 3:30 pm. He was convicted by the NIA Court on May 19.
In the last hearing, Malik had withdrawn his lawyer.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.
The Kashmiri Hurriyat leader 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 (militant 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 condemned Malik’s conviction and termed charges leveled by the 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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