DASHED HOPES
The J&K High Court judgment on Dr Qasim’s petition is going to affect as many as 25 people from Jammu and Kashmir. Besides the common criminals who too are facing life imprisonments and are languishing in different jails. Legal scientists are of the opinion that the High Court judgment which says that life imprisonment means imprisonment for full natural life has saddened hundreds of such prisoners who were hoping to get free after being incarcerated for 20 years.
“Yes, the judgment would affect a number of people who are undergoing life imprisonment, but we are going to challenge the judgment and are hopeful that we can get it challenged successfully,” said advocate Mian Abdul Qayoom.
Kashmir Life got access to a list of 25 prisoners of J&K who are facing life imprisonment on the militancy charges. They are imprisoned in different jails and their families are still hoping that they will be out of jail after 20 years. According to sources, some of these prisoners have completed 10 to 17 years of their imprisonment.
These prisoners include Mohammad Maqbool Khan, Shariefdin Khan and Gyasdin Khan, all sons of Rustom Khan, residents of Mahore, Reasi who are languishing in Kot Balwal jail, Jammu.
Sources said Fida Ahmad and Mohammad Hussain, residents of Reasi, Jammu, are also brothers. They too are imprisoned in Kot Balwal Jail and are awaiting the completion of 20 years of imprisonment because they believe, like other such prisoners, that life imprisonment does not go beyond two decades.
According to sources, Rajdin Khan S/O Abdul Gani Khan R/O Lohang Kuthua and Mohammad Shabir S/O Munawar Din R/O Lawang, Reasi, Kuthua are two such prisoners who are facing dual punishment of life and death sentences together. The list of prisoners facing life imprisonment under different charges relating to militancy includes:
1. Mohd. Amin Wani S/o Mohammad Sabir R/o Banihal.
2. Noor Mohammad Tantray S/o Abdul Khaliq R/o Tral.
3. Mohammad Iqbal Jan. S/o M Yousuf Jan Bandipora
4. Ferooz Ahmad Bhat. S/o Ghulam Nabi Bhat R/o Tral.
5. Mohd. Ayoub Dar. S/o Abdul Ahad Dar. R/o Rawalpora.
6. Dr. Mohammad Qasim R/o Soura, Srinagar.
7. Ghulam Qadir Bhat S/o Ghulam Hassan R/o Goushi, Kupwara.
8. Mohd Ayoub Mir S/o Ghulam Mohammad R/o New Colony,
Naseem Bagh, Srinagar.
9. Ghulam Qadir Bhat S/o Lasa Bhat R/o Dooru Islamabad.
10. Eng Farooq R/o Islamabad.
11. Mohd. Amin Dar S/o Sunaullah Dar R/o Banihal.
12. Fida Ahmad R/o Reasi, Jammu.
13. Mohammad Hussain R/O Reasi.
14. Mushtaq Ahmad Kuloo S/o Abdul Gaffar R/o Sopore.
15. Dr. Mohd. Shafi Khan (Sheryati) S/o Mohd Afzal Khan R/o Khag,
Khansahab, Budgam.
16. Mohammad Ishaq Paula S/O Ghulam Rasool Paula R/O Alora Shopian
17. Ghulam Mohammad Bhat S/o Noor Mohammad Bhat
R/o Khag Budgam.
18. Ghulam Mohammad Goni S/O Srinagar.
19. Mohammad Maqbool Khan s/o Rustom Khan R/o Mahore, Reasi.
20. Shariefdin Khan and Gyasdin 28 S/o Rustom Khan R/o Mahore, Reasi.
21. Abdul Waheed S/o Ahmadullah R/o Tachi, Banihal.
22. Rajdin Khan S/o Abdul Gani Khan R/o Lohang, Kuthua.
23. Shabir Ahmad Bhat S/O Mohammad Abdullah Bhat
R/O Marathgam Handwara.
24. Mushtaq Ahmad Malla S/O Ghulam Ahmad Malla
R/O Shachgund Payin Handwara.
25. Mohammad Shabir S/O Munawar Din R/O Lawang Reasi, Kuthwa.
