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PAK returnees’ detention causes uproar in LC
ASEM MOHIUDDIN. Dated: 10/10/2012 11:27:00 PM
1082 applications received under CM’s rehabilitation policy
SRINAGAR, Oct 10: With Jammu and Kashmir government admitting that over 1000 applications from youth, who want to return form Pakistan Administrated Kashmir (PAK) are received and scrutinized by security agencies, the Upper House Wednesday witnessed uproar after opposition Peoples Democratic Party asked state government to reveal the details of youth, who returned via Nepal border and reasons for detaining many of them.
Divulging the names of some youth and their families who were allegedly detained by the state police after they returned from Nepal border in last two years under the rehabilitation policy, opposition leader Murtaza Khan asked government to substantiate their detention.
However, the Minster for state Home Nasir Aslam Wani denied that any person, who returned from PAK under the rehabilitation policy have been detained.
“Police has detained those who did not return under the policy and lodged them in jails. No one among those, who returned under the rehabilitation policy has been detained,” replied the minister.
Not satisfied with the answer, Khan again cited an example of the wife of one returnee who has been lodged in jail and asked the minister to justify her detention.
Admitting that the woman was detained, the minister said that she was not part of rehabilitation policy and does not even exist among 66 persons who returned illegally from Nepal route.
As the leader from opposition was not again in agreement with the minister and accused him of “misleading” House, he again asked him to reveal the details.
Realizing that his colleague was cornered by the opposition, the National Conference member, Davender Singh Rana rose on his feet and shouted on Khan.
“Yeh Murtaza House ka time waste kar raha hai. (This Murtaza is wasting the time of House). If minister sahib has replied to your question, why don’t you accept,” Rana said while pointing towards Khan. However, Khan retorted and asked Rana to “behave properly”.
“Mr Rana you behave properly and don’t advise me. Go and advise somewhere else,” Khan retorted.
Furious over the reply, Rana again shouted towards Murtaza and told him that he can’t gag his voice as he is equal member of the house and knows his job well.
“I have to put you in blame as I am the only one who can do so. You always create scene to invite the media attention from gallery,” Rana blamed Khan.
As the blame game dominated the proceedings for some time, the chairman of the house refused to take any question on the issue.
Meanwhile, in a written reply to Khan, the government said that it has received 1082 applications on behalf of the persons presently in PAK and want to return under the rehabilitation policy.
“218 cases have been recommended. The rest of the applications are being scrutinized and verified,” it stated in written reply.
However, it further divulges that of the prospective 1082 returnees, 66 persons some of them along with their families returned illegally from Nepal border and other routes.
“No family members among them 66 are being detained or lodged in any jail,” it adds.
The government on security reasons refused to divulge the details of the returnees.
It however, said that policy has been formulated on the recommendations of Prime Minster’s roundtable conference during the tenure of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed as part of Confidence Building Measures.
“Working Group-1 on CBM’s across the segments of the people in the state set up under the aegis of the Primes Minster’s Round Table Conference, recommended that a definite policy and package is required to be formulated for the return and rehabilitation of the J&K state subjects from across the border, who had joined militancy for misguided ideological reasons, monetary considerations or were forced into militancy,” it reads.
Following the recommendations, the government said that under the cabinet decision number 253/23/2012 dated 22 November 2010 and vide Government order number Home-1376(ISA) of 2010, the state government with consultation of central home ministry notified the policy for the return and rehabilitation of willing youth of state in PAK.