Islamabad: The All Parties Hurriyat Conference Azad Jammu and Kashmir (APHC-AJK) has condemned the recent arrest of Advocate Mian Abdul Qayoom, a noted legal figure and former President of the High Court Bar Association in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, on charges they claim are unjustified and politically motivated.
According to Kashmir Media Service, APHC-AJK Convener Ghulam Muhammad Safi announced the organization’s call for international intervention during a statement in Islamabad. Safi highlighted the arrest of Qayoom by the State Investigation Agency (SIA) on June 25, 2024, as part of a campaign by New Delhi to suppress dissent through the misuse of law. He emphasized the political nature of Qayoom’s detention, describing it as an act of retaliation by Indian authorities.
Safi also detailed Qayoom’s precarious health condition, noting his advanced age, reliance on a single kidney, and various chronic ailments, which he argued made continued detention especially perilous amid his increased vulnerability to severe health complications.
Mian Abdul Qayoom was previously detained under the Public Safety Act just before the revocation of Article 370 by the Indian government, during which time he suffered significant health setbacks, including a major heart attack. His current arrest under what APHC-AJK claims are fabricated charges has prompted calls for his immediate release on humanitarian grounds and for the involvement of global human rights organizations.