To check if they are really free, Farooq to meet four senior party members tomorrow

Srinagar: National Conference Wednesday said its president Farooq Abdullah has invited senior party leaders for a meeting on Thursday and expect “no hogwash on part of the government” when it comes to free movement of the NC members.

The NC spokesperson said that they have taken cognizance of the stand taken by the Government in High Court in the Habeas Corpus matters filed by the party president Farooq Abdullah and his son and vice president Omar Abdullah for “securing the liberty of various leaders of the party that have been under illegal house detention.

“On a perusal of the reply the party has noticed that the government has unequivocally submitted before the High Court that the no leader is under detention and that they are free to move subject to necessary security arrangements,” the spokesperson said in a statement.

“Now relying fully on the stand of the government before the HC that the members are free to move and expecting no hogwash on part of the government, the party president Dr Farooq Abdullah has invited senior party members including Ali Mohammad Sagar, Abdul Rahim Rather, Mohammad Shafi Uri and Nasir Aslam Wani for a meeting at his residence on 20.8.2020 at 5 pm,” the spokesperson added.

The party, he said, is mindful of the present pandemic and accordingly the meeting with various leaders that have been under detention will be done in batches of four members per meeting.

“Needless to add that all SOPs shall be strictly followed by all concerned. The party is hopeful that the liberty of the members under detention is now absolute and the meeting is held successfully on the appointed day,” the spokesperson said.