‘We’re Fighting War Of Life & Death, Must Follow Govt Orders,’ Says Omar Abdullah After Being Released

Omar Abdullah released: Omar's release followed the release of his father and former chief minister, Farooq Abdullah who was released earlier this month.

Image: ANI

New Delhi: After nearly eight months of detention, the PSA order against former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah was revoked and the National Conference leader was released.  His release order was issued after charges under the Public Safety Act (PSA), slapped on him in February, were withdrawn. Abdullah commented on the current coronavirus pandemic situation as he was crowded around by media personnel just as soon as he was set free. Omar's release followed the release of his father and former chief minister, Farooq Abdullah who was released earlier this month. A swarm of media personnel and supporters, many of them in masks, waited for him outside his residence after he was released. "Today, I, realise that we are fighting a war of life and death. All our people who have been detained should be released at this time. We must follow govt orders to fight Coronavirus," Abdullah said. Abdullah, who turned 50 on March 10, had spent 232 days in custody since the government announced abrogation of the special status of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir. Omar was among the 50 odd politicians who were kept under 'preventive detention' after the revocation of Article 370. He and former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti were slapped with PSA on February 7 after being detained under preventive detention since August 5, 2019. In its order on a petition filed by Omar's sister, Sara Pilot, the Supreme Court had said that the J&K government should make it clear whether or not they intend to release Omar Abdullah shortly. The Supreme Court on Wednesday asked the Centre and Jammu and Kashmir administration to inform by next week if it is releasing former chief minister Omar Abdullah. "If you are releasing him, then release him soon or we will hear the matter on merits," the bench said. The observations came after counsel for the Centre and the J-K administration informed the court that Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who was appearing in the matter, is arguing in another court. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for the petitioner, said the court should fix a short date for hearing the matter. To this, the bench said only six benches are functioning due to the ongoing arrangement in the apex court and it does not know when the next turn will come. "Probably next week we are sitting and the matter will be taken up at that time," the bench said. The Jammu and Kashmir administration had said in the court that freeing Abdullah will pose imminent threat to public order, a claim which was disputed by Sara on Monday.