A sessions court on Tuesday acquitted an accused facing trial under POTA charges after the prosecution submitted withdrawal application to help the peace process in Jammu and Kashmir. Shabir Ahmad Dar, who was facing POTA charges, belonged to the Hurriyat Conference’s Kashmir Awareness Bureau. On February 6, 2003, Anjum Zamarud Habib, a member of the Hurriyat Conference’s women’s wing was arrested from outside the Pakistan High Commission, as she was leaving with a sum of Rs 3 lakh, which she had allegedly received to fund terrorist activities. In her disclosure statement, she mentioned Shabir and he was subsequently arrested the same day. The special cell recovered propaganda material in the form of documents, video cassettes, audio cassettes and cash Rs. 2.15 lakh. This too was meant to fund terrorist activities, the police alleged. Both have been in judicial custody ever since. The prosecution filed an application for withdrawal, saying Dar’s release would ‘‘have a beneficial effect on the peace process initiated in J-K, which is in the larger interest of society’’. Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) J.M. Malik, in his order, said he ‘‘permits the state to withdraw this case against accused S.A. Dar and hereby acquit him. He be released forthwith if not required in any other case. The case against the co-accused will continue.’’ Meanwhile, Anjum has applied for bail, saying that if the case against Shabir could be withdrawn, then she could also be granted bail. ASJ Malik has fixed May 20 as the date for arguments and orders. This is the third case to be closed in the city where accused facing POTA charges have been released or discharged to help the peace process. Other Hurriyat leaders released were Ghulam Nabi Sheikh and Saifuddin Bhat, who had been arrested last year for waging war against the country.
