Dr Shah Faesal Saturday said his party – J&K Peoples Movement – would not contest the upcoming parliamentary polls even as he urged people to vote for “right candidates”.
Addressing a news conference here, Faesal announced that hisparty has decided to “focus more on mass contact programme”.
“We have decided that we will not contest the LokSabhaelections this time,” he said, adding that their decision was also a responseto those who are accusing them of dividing votes in Kashmir.
The IAS topper of 2010 batch had resigned from service to”protest against civilian killings in Kashmir and failure of New Delhi to reachout to people in J&K”.
Faesal asked the people to come out to vote for electing the”right candidates”.
“Whether there is a boycott or not, people will be electedto the Parliament. We should take part in the democratic process so that theright candidates are elected,” he suggested.
In a Facebook post, the former bureaucrat wrote that peopleshould vote for NOTA if they don’t find good candidates in fray.
Expressing concern over human rights violations in Kashmir,he demanded action against the police personnel responsible for the “custodialkilling” of RizwanAsadPandit of Awantipora.
“Prima facie it iscustodial killing. These killings are enough to disturb peace in Kashmir,” hesaid, adding that judicial inquiry should be ordered into the killing. Faesalalso condemned the killing of 12-year-old Atif of Hajin.
“The combatants from both the sides should respect the humanrights and desist from indulging in rights abuses,” he said.
On the occasion, journalist Chasfeeda Shah and lawyer TariqIqbal joined the party.