People’s Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti on Wednesday led a protest rally in Pulwama district against the suspension of cross-Line of Control trade and ban on civilian traffic for two days on Srinagar-Jammu national highway.
Speaking to the media persons on the sidelines of the rally,Mehbooba said that she and her party workers hit the streets to protest againstthe “muscular policies” of the central government.
“We demand immediate resumption of trade and revocationof the highway ban,” Mufti said.
On April 18, Union Home ministry suspended the cross-LoCtrade, saying the trade route was being used for transportation of narcotics,illegal weapons and fake currency, while the movement of civilian traffic on the was banned for two days a week tofacilitate the movement of the forces in wake of Pulwama suicide attack.
Mufti also sought the immediate release of ailing Jammu andKashmir Liberation Front leader Muhammad Yasin Malik.
“Sadhvi Pragya, the Melegaon blast accused, is movingfreely and an unwell Malik has been put behind the bars,” Mufti said andadded that security forces should not harass the families of militants.
“Properties of militants’ families are being vandalisedand their brothers picked up by forces. Even the bodies of militants aremutilated during the encounters. This all should stop,” Mehboobasaid.
The rally wherein a few PDP workers participated was takenfrom town hall to the Deputy Commissioner’s office.