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Former HCBA President Charged Under UAPA for Advocate's Assassination

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

A special NIA court in Jammu has framed charges against Mian Abdul Qayoom, a 77-year-old separatist leader and executive member of the Hurriyat Conference, in connection with the assassination of advocate Babar Qadri in September 2020. Qayoom was arrested on June 25, 2024, as the principal conspirator behind Qadri's killing, allegedly by terrorists of the proscribed 'The Resistance Front' (TRF), a proxy of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba.

Qayoom's case has been marred by controversy, with his habeas corpus petition and challenge to the arrest and remand process being dismissed by the Jammu and Kashmir High Court in February. He was taken into custody by the State Investigation Agency (SIA) of the Jammu and Kashmir Police, which took over the case in July 2023, after collecting evidence against him. Qayoom is the father-in-law of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court judge Justice Javed Iqbal Wani.

Key Takeaways:

  • Mian Abdul Qayoom, former president of the Kashmir wing of the High Court Bar Association, has been charged under UAPA for the assassination of advocate Babar Qadri in September 2020.
  • Qayoom was arrested on June 25, 2024, as the principal conspirator behind Qadri's killing, allegedly by terrorists of the proscribed 'The Resistance Front' (TRF).
  • Qayoom was taken into custody by the State Investigation Agency (SIA) of the Jammu and Kashmir Police, which took over the case in July 2023.
  • Qayoom is the father-in-law of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court judge Justice Javed Iqbal Wani.
  • Four other individuals, including Qayoom's son and two lawyers, were also arrested in connection with Qadri's murder.
  • The police alleged that Qayoom was involved in a secessionist agenda and used the Kashmir Bar Association to further his goals.
  • Qayoom has a history of being a terrorist sympathizer and diehard secessionist, with several cases already registered against him for his anti-national activities.
  • The SIA chargesheet alleged that Qayoom treated JKHCBA, Kashmir as his fiefdom and virtually converted it into a constituent of All Party Hurriyat Conference (APHC).
  • During the major unrests post 2008 in Kashmir, Qayoom was at the forefront of anti-India demonstrations and his calls for shutdowns coincided with the hartal calendars issued by Hurriyat.

Statistics:

  • September 2020: Advocate Babar Qadri was assassinated.
  • June 25, 2024: Mian Abdul Qayoom was arrested.
  • July 2023: The State Investigation Agency (SIA) took over the case.
  • September 2023: The SIA announced a reward of Rs 10 lakh for any information leading to solving Qadri's murder.
  • 2018: Advocate Babar Qadri survived an assassination attempt.
  • 2008: Major unrests occurred in Kashmir, with Qayoom at the forefront of anti-India demonstrations.

Sources:

  • Copyright 2025 The Northlines, distributed by Contify.com
  • Jammu and Kashmir Police press release dated June 25, 2024
  • SIA chargesheet filed in the special NIA court in Jammu
  • HT report dated March 12, 2023

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