Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Apr 6 : After a court battle Peoples Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti’s daughter Iltija has been issued a passport with 2 year validity.
According to a letter, the Regional Passport Officer has stated that Iltija has been issued the passport valid from April 5, 2023, to April 4, 2025.
The Regional Passport Officer had written the letter to the additional solicitor general of the High Court.
The letter mentions that she has been issued a passport as she seeks to pursue higher studies in the UAE.
Iltija had approached the High Court after the travel document was denied by the passport office citing no clearance from the CID department.
The CID/Police verification report received from Special Director General of Police (CID) J&K in February didn’t favour for issuance of passport to Iltija.
The Passport Officer Srinagar, Davinder Kumar had sought a detailed report from the CID on any charge sheet and FIR against her but the department refused and reiterated their initial report shared by them on February 16.
“Given the circumstances especially that the applicant seeks to pursue higher studies (Masters) in UAE, this office issued passport…valid up to 04/04/2025,” Kumar said in his letter.
Iltija said that by issuing her the passport, no favour has been extended and wondered why the validity was for only two years whereas the travel document is valid for 10 years.
“They have not done me any favour. I am thankful to the honourable court but the larger question remains about CID’s gross misconduct and abuse of power by weaponising passports,” she alleged.
In March 2021, Mehbooba and her 80-year-old mother Gulshan Nazir were refused passport by J&K Police citing an “adverse report” against her.
Mehbooba’s passport expired on May 31, 2019, and she applied for a fresh one on December 11, the next year, while her mother and wife of former chief minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed had also applied for a passport in 2020 to undertake a religious pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia.
Mehbooba’s passport application is still pending though the authorities issued the travel document of her mother in February on the directions of the High Court.
Follow our WhatsApp channel