NEW DELHI, JUNE 22: A tribunal set up under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) on Saturday confirmed the Centre’s decision to impose a five-year ban on the Muslim League, Jammu Kashmir (Masarat Alam faction) and Tehreek-e-Hurriyat, Jammu and Kashmir.
The one-member tribunal of Delhi High Court judge Sachin Datta was constituted under the stringent anti-terror law in January to assess whether there was “sufficient cause” behind the imposition of the ban.
Upholding the ban, the tribunal held the two organisations were carrying out secessionist activities in Kashmir Valley with help from across the border to realise the merger of Jammu and Kashmir with Pakistan and establish Islamic rule in the Union Territory.
The tribunal also upheld the Centre’s contention that the organisations were acting on behalf of Pakistan-based terrorist organisations such as Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Hizbul Mujahideen, and were giving constant on ground support for carrying out militant operations in the valley.
Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati and advocate Rajat Nair represented the government before the tribunal.
The government had on December 27, 2023, declared Muslim League, Jammu Kashmir (Masarat Alam faction) outlawed for a period of five years under the UAPA on account of its being involved in anti-national and secessionist activities in the Union Territory.
Tehreek-e-Hurriyat (TeH), which was founded by deceased separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani, was outlawed for five years on December 31, 2023., on charges of fomenting terrorism and spreading anti-India propaganda in Jammu and Kashmir.
The Union Home Ministry, while imposing the ban, had said the leaders and members of TeH have been involved in raising funds through various sources, including Pakistan and its proxy organisations, for perpetrating unlawful activities, including supporting terrorist activities and sustained stone-pelting on the security forces in the UT.
