The ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Opposition National Conference (NC), and rights bodies in Kashmir on Friday welcomed the Supreme Court directions on the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) and claimed “vindication of their demand to revoke it”.
“The court directions are in tune with the spirit of democracy. It has gone into the heart of the matter as we are dealing with our own people; no matter there might be difference of opinion with people. This is not only in the State’s but also in the country’s interest, though we understand its use in exigencies,” PDP chief spokesman Mehboob Beg said.
The NC said: “It’s an optimistic and positive message that comes out of the court and should be welcomed. Though it’s an interim observation, the time has come to do more and revoke it,” NC spokesman Junaid Azim Mattu told The Hindu.
The J&K Coalition of Civil Society, which has documented the cases where the AFSPA was used to shield abusers, is apprehensive whether the SC observations would be followed.
