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Srinagar, An Indian government tribunal has confirmed the continuation of a ban on the Democratic Freedom Party (DFP), a political group in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir led by the detained senior leader of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC), Shabbir Ahmad Shah.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the ban was initially imposed by the Indian Ministry of Home Affairs in October 2023, labeling the Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party as an ‘unlawful association’ under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA). The legislation, often described as stringent, was invoked due to the party’s significant involvement in the regional autonomy movement.
Shabbir Ahmad Shah has been incarcerated since July 2017, following his arrest by the Indian Enforcement Directorate (ED), which was described by supporters as akin to a kidnapping. Shah was subsequently transferred to Tihar Jail in New Delhi, facing charges in a case dating back to 2007, which his advocates claim is unfounded.
The tribunal’s decision underscores the ongoing tension between Indian authorities and political movements in Jammu and Kashmir, particularly those advocating for self-determination or greater regional autonomy.