Kashmir shuts against challenge to Art 35-A

Srinagar, Feb 13: A complete shutdown was Wednesday observed in Kashmir following the Joint Hurriyat’s two-day strike call (Feb 13-14) against the challenge in the Supreme Court on the validity of Article 35-A, which bars people from outside Jammu and Kashmir from acquiring any immovable property in the state.
As per eyewitnesses, all the shops and business establishments were closed across the Valley while as thin movement of private vehicles was seen on roads.
The government forces were deployed in strength at vulnerable places in the city and elsewhere in Kashmir for maintaining ‘law and order’, a police official said.
Various organisations including Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industries extended support to the shutdown call of the Joint Hurriyat.
Joint Hurriyat comprising Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Yasin Malik said that “people of Jammu and Kashmir will forcefully resist every challenge by New Delhi to change the demography of the State by rolling back hereditary state subject laws of 1927, being contested in the Supreme Court through their agents.”
In a statement, the spokesman said that the late announcement and ambiguity over the dates of hearing of 35A and 370 by Supreme Court on 13 or 14 of February is “worrisome, and indicates of mischief”.
The leadership warned the authorities that if anything adverse to the interests of the people of J&K and its disputed status is announced through the courts a mass people’s agitation will be started instantly across the state and the responsibility of the consequences of that will be entirely on those forcing us to react, the statement said.

Joint Hurriyat withdraws strike call for today

Srinagar, Feb 13: Joint Hurriyat Leadership Wednesday withdrew the protest strike call against the hearing of Article 35 A case in Supreme Court of India on February 14 (Thursday).
“…the lawyers conveyed to the leadership that in the cause list issued by the Supreme Court at 7 pm on Wednesday, it (ARt 35-A) is not listed for hearing tomorrow,” Joint Hurriyat said in a statement.
The Kashmir bar association led by senior lawyers Mian Qayoom, Zafar Shah, Zaffar Qureshi, Mohammad Ashraf and others are in New Delhi defending the case at the Supreme Court on behalf of the people of J&K.
They are in touch with the leadership.
Joint Hurriyat said the senior lawyers of Bar will be present at the Supreme Court for the whole day on Thursday as well and will closely monitor the case and update the leadership about it.