Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti released

Former CM Mehbooba Mufti who was under detention, charged under the Public Safety Act (PSA) was released yesterday.

Ms Mufti’s release comes just as a deadline set by the Supreme Court, which had been approached by her daughter Iltija Mufti with a habeas corpus petition, was set to expire.

In July, Ms Mufti’s detention under the Public Safety Act was extended for another three months.

Minutes after Ms Mufti’s release was confirmed her daughter, Iltija Mufti, who took over her mother’s Twitter account after she was detained, tweeted: “As Ms Mufti’s illegal detention finally comes to an end, Id like to thank everybody who supported me in these tough times. I owe a debt of gratitude to you all. This is Iltija signing off. May Allah protect you”.

“There is a sense of huge relief, Twitter is a toxic place. Glad I will not be on it anymore. My mother will finally use her own Twitter handle. It felt abnormal to use hers.”

“…but a lot of young people are still languishing in jail. (The detention was a) complete travesty of justice (and) other families are still suffering,” she added.

“I’m pleased to hear that Mehbooba Mufti sahiba has been released after more than a year in detention. Her continued detention was a travesty & was against the basic tenets of democracy. Welcome out Mehbooba,” he said.

Last year the centre placed political leaders under detention (or arrested them), flooded the Kashmir Valley with troops and enforced an internet blockade that lasted for several months.