Jammu and Kashmir parties divided as NIA pleads Yasin Malik's death penalty

While Peoples Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti said the case of a political prisoner like Yasin Malik must be "reviewed & reconsidered", the Apni Party chief Altaf Bukhari said, "deterrent measures" should be taken against those who are trying to threaten national security.

The NIA on Friday approached the Delhi High Court seeking the death penalty for Yasin Malik who was convicted in connection with a terror funding case. The court will hear the matter on Monday. Malik was sentenced to life imprisonment by a special NIA court in May last year after he pleaded guilty in the case.

“NIA’s plea demanding the death penalty for Yasin Malik highlights the urgency to address militant funding in Jammu and Kashmir. We must ensure justice prevails and deterrent measures should be taken against those who are trying to threaten our nation’s security,” Apni Party chief Bukhari said on Twitter.

PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti reacted sharply to Bukari’s assertions on Malik terming her former party colleague as "political Ikhwan" (renegade).

“In a democracy like India where even the assassins of a PM were pardoned, the case of a political prisoner like Yasin Malik must be reviewed & reconsidered. The new political ikhwan gleefully supporting his hanging are a grave threat to our collective rights, ”she tweeted.