Not refusing examination: Mirwaiz
Softening his earlier stand, Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has conveyed to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) “his willingness to cooperate” in an “illegal funding” case registered in 2017.In the latest letter, in response to a fresh NIA summon, the Mirwaiz’s lawyer wrote: “The Mirwaiz is willing and was always willing to be examined by the agency. It’s once again urged that such examination and sitting be held at Humhama office (in Budgam) of the NIA”.The Mirwaiz’s letter has attached “several social media threats”. “The Mirwaiz has received open calls for his assassination (online). The examination at the NIA’s office in the Valley will avoid any adverse consequences,” the letter reads. The NIA has served two summons so far to the Mirwaiz, who is considered a moderate and a pro-dialogue voice within the separatist spectrum. The Mirwaiz has lost his father and uncle in 1990 and 2004 to unknown assassins in Srinagar.“The Mirwaiz has not refused examination in the case,” the lawyer added.The letter also refers to the recent move by the State government to withdraw his Z-plus security. “The Mirwaiz has serious concerns about his safety,” it added. The NIA on February 27 searched the residence of the Mirwaiz in Srinagar and later issued two summon notices to him. The summon saw a spontaneous shutdown in the old city and protests from Valley-based civil society and religious groups. The Mirwaiz is also head priest of the Valley and delivers sermons every Friday at Srinagar’s Jamia Masjid.‘No intimidation’ The National Conference vice president Omar Abdullah on Thursday said his party “will not allow the NIA to intimidate innocent Kashmiris”. “In my tenure, the NIA was only used once, that too to save the life of Liyaqat, a local. It was (PDP president Mehbooba Mufti) who used NIA against hundreds of locals. We will ensure that undue intimidation of our youth is not done by the NIA,” the former Chief Minister said at an election rally in north Kashmir.