Tihar prisoner to fight elections from Bandipora
‘He will contest polls to prove himself innocent’
Mir Tariq Bandipora, Oct 31: An under trial prisoner languishing in Tihar Jail, New Delhi will contest the forthcoming assembly elections from Bandipora constituency in this newly created district.Iqbal Jan, a student turned businessman of Sonarwani Bandipora is languishing in Tihar Jail from November 16, 2006. He was arrested by Delhi police on the charges of acting as a conduit for militants. The charges have been termed fabricated by Iqbal and his family members and they are fighting the legal battle to seek his release.
Jan's sister, Shameema told Rising Kashmir that he will contest the assembly elections from Bandipora constituency as Panthers Party (PP) candidate. "We sent the papers to him in Tihar Jail where he filled the documents. These were also sent to party president Bhim Singn and after his clearance the nomination paper were filed,” she said.Returning Officer Bandipora, Ali Muhammad Dar confirmed that they had received the nomination paper from Iqbal Jan as Panther’s Party candidate in accordance with ECI rules and regulations. Iqbal’s sister said that his brother was framed by Delhi Police to seek reward and promotions. “We approached the chief minister and higher-ups in Law and Justice Ministry, Government of India but nobody helped us and our innocent brother continues to be languishing in jail. We also wrote to Indian president and other Indian ministers but of no avail”.Shaheena said that her brother has decided to fight elections to prove himself innocent. “All of us (five sisters) will campaign for him in the hamlet. We will be visiting every household in Bandipora constituency and seek votes for him to ensure Iqbal’s victory,” she said. “If he wins, we will fight for the Kashmiris, who have been framed and are languishing in jails outside State,” said Salma on behalf of his brother. The Panthers Party Kashmir president, Farooq Ahmed said that Iqbal Jan is innocent and the party will fight for the victimized people.