New Delhi: The Centre Wednesday declared the Muslim League Jammu Kashmir (Masarat Alam faction) an “unlawful association” under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
In a post on X, Union home minister Amit Shah said that this organisation and its members were involved in “anti-national and secessionist activities” in Jammu and Kashmir, adding that they had incited people “to establish Islamic rule in J&K”.
The post said the Narendra Modi government’s message was loud and clear that anyone “acting against the unity, sovereignty, and integrity of our nation will not be spared and face the full wrath of the law”.
The ‘Muslim League Jammu Kashmir (Masarat Alam faction)’/MLJK-MA is declared as an 'Unlawful Association' under UAPA.
This organization and its members are involved in anti-national and secessionist activities in J&K supporting terrorist activities and inciting people to…
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) December 27, 2023
The organisation is fronted by Masarat Alam, the interim chairman of the hardline faction of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference, which was earlier led by separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani.
Alam is said to have played a crucial role in stone-pelting incidents in the Valley in 2010 — inciting pro-Azadi mass protests that left 120 youth dead in retaliation by security forces.
He was subsequently jailed and faced charges under the Jammu and Kashmir Public Safety Act (PSA), 1978. According to reports, Alam has 27 FIRs to his name and has been booked under PSA 36 times.
He was released in March 2015 by then Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, which triggered a backlash against her Peoples Democratic Party and led to strained relations with coalition partner BJP.
He was reportedly arrested within a month on charges of “sedition” and “waging war against the state” after he allegedly raised pro-Pakistan slogans at a rally to welcome Syed Ali Shah Geelani in Srinagar. He succeeded Geelani in the Hurriyat after the leader’s death in September 2021.
The 50-year-old is currently in Delhi’s Tihar Jail, lodged there since 2019, in a terror-funding case being investigated by the National Investigation Agency (NIA)
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