Pakistan criticises confinement of JKLF chief Yasin Malik

Pakistan on Monday criticised India for arresting and confining separatist leader Yasin Malik in connection with a case related to the funding of terror and separatist groups in Jammu and Kashmir.

Malik, whose organisation JKLF was banned last month by the Centre, is also facing two CBI cases. These relate to the kidnapping of Rubaiya Saeed, daughter of then Union home minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed, in 1989, and the killing of four IAF personnel in 1990.

Pakistan strongly condemns the continuing incarceration and deteriorating health of Yasin Malik since February 22 on trumped up charges, Pakistan's foreign office said in a press release.

WATCH: Sadhvi Pragya Hits Right Back At Mehbooba Mufti Over PDP Chief's 'Imagine The Anger If I’d Field A Terror Accused' Attack

We expect the Government of India to ensure the wellbeing of Malik, including provision of adequate health care," it said. 

Following the NIA securing JKLF chief Yasin Malik's custody for 12 days, on April 10 he was shifted to Delhi's Tihar Jail from Jammu's Kot Balwal jail where he had been lodged last month. Malik will face questioning related to the terror funding case lodged against him by the NIA.

The NIA's probe is seeking to identify the chain of players behind the financing of terrorist activities in Jammu and Kashmir, as well as the pelting of stones at security forces, burning down of schools and damaging of government establishments. It had approached a special court in Jammu seeking Malik's remand for custodial interrogation in the terror-funding case.

The separatist leader was booked under sections 120B/121A of the IPC and sections 13, 16, 17, 18, 20, 38, 39 and 40 of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) and was lodged in Jammu's Kot Balwal jail in March.

On Monday, another separatist leader, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, had also been summoned by the NIA, after having thrice defied similar summons citing "conditions of hostility". This time he has travelled to the capital and is being questioned by the NIA in connection with terror-funding cases from 2007 and 2017.

READ| "Chowkidar Mehbooba Mufti?", Chuckles Omar Abdullah Taking A Dig At The PDP Chief After She Uses The Reference In Her Speech

(With PTI inputs)