New Delhi: Mushaal Hussein Mullick, the wife of Yasin Malik, the imprisoned leader of the Hurriyat Conference, has written to Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi, appealing for a parliamentary debate on her husband’s behalf, PTI reported.
She believes Malik has the potential to foster peace in Jammu and Kashmir.
Mullick, who previously served as an aide to Pakistan’s Prime Minister on human rights and women’s empowerment, argues that Malik’s involvement in J&K’s peace efforts is crucial and demands urgent attention.
In her letter, Mullick urged Gandhi to consider Malik’s contribution to peace, saying, “Rahul Ji, Yasin Malik could be a catalyst for peace in Jammu and Kashmir if given a fair chance.” She implored the Congress leader to intervene, warning that Malik’s deteriorating health could lead to dire consequences.
Describing her husband’s treatment as “tantamount to torture,” Mullick pleaded for Gandhi’s support to ensure justice for him.
In her appeal, Mullick also highlighted Malik’s ongoing legal struggles, notably a decades-old sedition charge where the National Investigation Agency (NIA) is now pursuing the death penalty.
Currently, Malik is fighting the NIA’s push for a death sentence in a militancy funding case from 2017, which implicated him along with others. He was sentenced to life in prison in 2022 after a guilty plea in the case.
Mullick argued that Malik’s detention and the NIA’s push for capital punishment reflect “a larger political agenda.”
Since 2019, she claimed, the BJP-led government of India has subjected Malik to “inhumane treatment” and politically driven trials.
She alleged that Malik is now being prosecuted for “waging war against India” in a 35-year-old case, with what she called “fabricated charges” being used to push for his execution.
Mullick emphasised that her husband, who once supported armed resistance, abandoned violence years ago and adopted a peaceful approach.
“Yasin Malik could be a genuine force for peace in J&K, not a superficial one,” she stated.
Mullick further pointed out that since November 2, Malik has been on an indefinite hunger strike in protest of his harsh treatment in prison.
She expressed grave concern for his health, cautioning that the hunger strike could endanger his life.
“This hunger strike is a last resort against the severe conditions he has endured, putting his life at great risk,” she warned.
Mullick reiterated that Malik’s commitment to non-violence, following his renunciation of armed struggle, has been recognized by numerous authors and peace advocates over the years.
