Congress leader Azad meets Farooq at his residence in Srinagar

Official sources said that Azad arrived here on Saturday and went straight to the residence of Dr Abdullah in Gupkar. “The two leaders discussed various issues, including the situation in the newly created Union Territory post August 5,” they added.

Azad visited Kashmir valley once in September last year after the Supreme Court (SC) granted him permission to travel to the valley post abrogation of special status of J&K. Azad was not allowed to enter Srinagar and Jammu, and was sent back by authorities from the airport twice before the SC order last year.

Earlier in the day, Dr Abdullah, who is a former chief minister of J&K, met his son and also a former chief minister Omar Abdullah in a sub-jail in the summer capital, Srinagar, following his released on Friday from detention after seven months under Public Safety Act (PSA).

Dr Abdullah, who is MP from Srinagar, drove from his residence to nearby Hari Nivas in Srinagar, where Omar Abdullah remained under custody under PSA since August 5, when the Centre abrogated Article 370 and Article 35 A, besides bifurcation of the state into two Union Territories.

Jammu and Kashmir administration on Friday revoked detention of Dr Abdullah after over seven months. The revocation of detention of the former chief minister comes just two days after Public Safety Act (PSA), which was slapped on him in September last year, was extended for another three months on March 11.

“In exercise of powers conferred under Section 19(1) of the Jammu and Kashmir Public Safety Act, 1978, the government hereby revokes the detention order bearing No DMS/PSA/120/2019 issued by District Magistrate, Srinagar,” a statement issued by the newly created UT administration of J&K said.

Dr Abdullah and two other former chief ministers -- Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti -- besides dozens of other former ministers and legislators were detained on August 5, post abrogation of Article 370 and Article 35 A.

However, the NC president was booked under Public Safety Act (PSA) on September 15, 2019 when MDMK chief Vaiko approached the Supreme Court (SC), seeking directions to the government to allow Dr Abdullah to attend a peaceful and democratic annual conference in Chennai. The Gupkar residence of Dr Abdullah was turned into a jail for him and a large number of security force personnel were remained deployed there.

Detention of Dr Abdullah, first under house arrest, and later under PSA evoked sharp reaction from different national and regional political parties. The detention of Dr Abdullah, who is a former Union Minister, under PSA was extended for three months in December which was again extended on March 11.