Ex Bar chief may have plotted killing
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 24: In order to unravel the conspiracy behind the killing of noted lawyer Advocate Babar Qadri, police today raided the houses of senior advocates including that of former Kashmir Bar Association President, Advocate Mian Abdul Qayoom.
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The raids were carried out at the residence of advocates Mian Abdul Qayoom, Muzaffar Ahmad and Manzoor Ahmed Dar early this morning in Srinagar.
Advocate Qadri was shot dead by militants inside his residence in Srinagar city’s Hawal area in September 2020.
Qadri, who was a vocal critic of the Bar Association leadership, particularly of Qayoom, had claimed threat to his life three days before he was shot dead.
Police earlier named Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) commander Saqib Manzoor, who was killed in an encounter last year, responsible for Qadri’s killing.
Police have filed a charge sheet against five persons who are facing trial in the case.
However, police said that searches of the lawyers’ houses were conducted during the investigation of the case after new evidences came against these persons. Police further said that the evidences that came up have the potential to unravel the conspiracy part in the killing.
A Police spokesman said here that Srinagar Police today conducted simultaneous searches at four locations, two located in Barzulla area, one in Brein Nishat and one in Maisuma in houses and offices of three lawyers in connection with killing of Advocate Babar Qadri.
The houses of lawyers Mian Abdul Qayoom, Muzaffar Ahmad and Manzoor Ahmed Dar were searched in furtherance of the investigation of the murder case.
“All procedures as per due process of law were followed in the searches so conducted in presence of Executive Magistrates. Deputy Superintendent level officers personally supervised and led these searches at all locations,” police said.
The spokesman said that the digital devices, bank statements, property sale agreements, suspicious books and other relevant material were seized during the searches.
Police said that the raids were carried out during investigations of the case (FIR number 62/2020 under Sections of 302 IPC , 7/27 Arms Act, and 16,18,20,39 of Unlawful Activities ( Prevention) Act) registered in Police Station Lal Bazar.
Police said that five accused have been since charge sheeted in this case and are facing trial.
Details revealed that Qayoom is suspected to have plotted killing of Advocate Babar Qadri and investigations have finally reached his doorstep.
“As president of Bar Association, Qayoom had expelled Qadri from basic membership of Association and couple of times got him physically assaulted through his associate likeminded Advocates,” sources said.
Qayoom earns his livelihood by practicing law under the Constitution of India but don’t believe in the same Constitution. He even threatens lawyers who believe in the Constitution of India.
Investigations have also revealed that Qayoom has been indoctrinating and recruiting vulnerable youth for terror organizations though his kin and relatives are all enjoying Constitutional positions and none have joined terror groups.
He is also reported to have drawn huge sums from Pakistan and terror organizations for fighting their cases. Heading the Legal cell established and funded by Pakistan’s ISI, he along with battery of lawyers including Advocate Shafqat Hussain would plead and secure favourable decisions in all cases pertaining to entities involved in terrorism and secessionism since 1990.
Sources said even today Qayoom openly supports terror groups, militants and endorses terror attacks on security forces.
“He was solely responsible for making High Court Bar Association as a constituent part of All Party Hurriyat Conference and drafting the constitution of Bar Association wherein it was provided in aims and objectives to secure secession of J&K from Union of India.
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