PDP Chief Mehbooba Mufti's Daughter Iltija Gets 'UAE-Specific' Passport, But...
Iltija, 35, petitioned the Jammu and Kashmir High Court in February after her passport application was denied. Her passport expired on January 2, 2018, and she applied for a new one on June 8, 2017.
Officials stated on Thursday that PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti's daughter Iltija has been awarded a passport valid for two years, news agency ANI reported.
"PDP president Mehbooba Mufti’s daughter Iltija Mufti has been issued a passport for a limited period of two years to allow her to study abroad despite an adverse report by the CID," Ministry of External Affairs stated.
J&K | PDP president Mehbooba Mufti’s daughter Iltija Mufti has been issued a passport for a limited period of two years to allow her to study abroad despite an adverse report by the CID: Ministry of External Affairs
— ANI (@ANI) April 6, 2023
Iltija, 35, petitioned the Jammu and Kashmir High Court in February after her passport application was denied. Her passport expired on January 2, 2018, and she applied for a new one on June 8, 2017.
The court ordered the Regional Passport Office (RPO) to investigate the case's merits. According to a letter from the RPO to the assistant solicitor general, Iltija, who wishes to pursue further education, has been awarded a passport valid from April 5, 2023 to April 4, 2025.
"This passport will be valid only for UAE," an official was quoted by PTI in its report.
According to the RPO's letter, the CID/police verification report obtained in February from the special director general of police (CID), Jammu and Kashmir, does not support awarding her a passport.
According to authorities, Passport Officer (Srinagar) Davinder Kumar requested a thorough report from the CID on whether Iltija was charged or filed a FIR. However, the department declined to disclose its report and repeated its February stance.
"Why is the validity of this passport only for two years and that too country specific?" Iltija asked.
"They have not done me any favour. I am thankful to the honourable court but the larger question remains about CID's gross misconduct and abuse of power by weaponising passports," she informed PTI.
She said that the CID's negative report is full of "blatant lies."
"They are infringing on my rights by filing adverse reports to ensure my passport is not issued," she alleged.
"To add to that, the adverse report has been classified as top secret. The only reason it is top secret is because the CID has nothing substantial against me," she stated.
On March 29, the CID requested that Iltija's writ petition be dismissed. It notified the Supreme Court that her final verification report had been given to the relevant agency in February.
"The petitioner has no ground to approach the court against the answering respondent because none of the rights, whether fundamental or legal, have been infringed by the answering respondent," Senior Superintendent of Police, headquarters, CID, Jammu and Kashmir, had said, PTI reported.
Mehbooba and her 80-year-old mother Gulshan Nazir were denied passports in March 2021, claiming a "adverse report" against them.
Mehbooba's passport was about to expire on May 31, 2019, and she requested for a new one on December 11, 2020. Her mother, the wife of former chief minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, also filed for a passport in 2020 to travel to Saudi Arabia on a religious pilgrimage.
Mehbooba's passport application is still in the works. But, on the orders of the Supreme Court, officials issued the travel permit to her mother in February.
(With Inputs From PTI, ANI)
Trending News
Top Headlines
