In party meet, Mehbooba discusses defence of Art 35-A

Srinagar, Aug 27: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti on Monday held a detailed meeting with her party cadres and discussed the party’s forthcoming strategy to defend the Article 35-A and safeguarding the state’s unique position. PDP chief spokesman Rafi Ahmad Mir said in a statement that the former chief minister held the meeting with party leaders, activists and legislators of central Kashmir and deliberated in detail over the present political scenario and reviewed the measures being taken to strengthen the party at the grass-roots. “The meeting held detailed discussions over the party’s strategy to defend the Article 35-A and safeguarding of state’s unique position,” Mir said. Mir said Mehbooba chaired an important meet of party’s central Kashmir team at her official residence here in which besides the legislators and other party functionaries of district Srinagar, Ganderbal and Budgam, party’s vice president Abdul Rahman Veeri and general secretary Ghulam Nabi Lone Hanjura also participated. The spokesperson said the participants also hailed the persistent efforts of the PDP President for making defence of 35-A at the supreme court her prime concern and sending the team of legal experts including Muzaffar Hussain Baig to defend the case at the country’s top court. According to the spokesman, the meeting also deliberated in detail the present political scenario of the state and measures needed to strengthen the party at the grass-roots. Meanwhile, Senior PDP leader and former advocate general of Jammu and Kashmir , Muzaffar Hussain Baig has flown to Delhi to appear in the case challenging Art 35-A, slated for listing before the Supreme Court on 31 August. A party spokesperson said Baig, who is also Member of Parliament, is considered as an authority on constitutional relationship of the State with Union of India. Baig is scheduled to lead a team of lawyers on behalf of People Democratic Party in its intervention plea filed by the Party through its president Mehbooba Mufti last week. The spokesperson said earlier when in power in the state, PDP had engaged renowned jurist and famous constitutional expert Fali S. Nariman to represent the State in defence of Art 35-A and other constitutional provisions ensuring special constitutional position of the State. He said the party does not want to spare any efforts to put up the ultimate legal battle. “While Murtaza Khan, another prominent lawyer belonging to the PDP is already in the capital to pursue the matter and assist Baig, Mehbooba Mufti has asked former Law Minister Abdul Haque Khan, Ghulam Nabi Lone Hanjura and Ch. Zulfikar Ali to rush to Delhi in connection with the case,” he added.