Srinagar,
December 25: Successive state governments have often been accused of resorting to the
pick-and-choose policy, especially in the militancy-scarred Kashmir
region, when it comes to clearing people’s names for things like the issuance
of passports or jobs. One victim of such policy, Ajaz Ahmad War says he is very
much a victim of this official high handedness.
A resident of Maisuma, a separatist bastion, Ajaz Ahmad War , by proffession working journalist , has lodged requests
for a passport at all offices which matter, right from Chief Minister’s to that
of CID bigwigs, and received words and letters of sympathy and assurance from
everywhere. But he is yet to receive a passport as his police verification done
by the CID remains pending. He had applied for a passport on February 27, 2008.
What has apparently gone against Ajaz is that one of his
elder brothers, Hilal War, is a separatist leader, Chairman of People’s
Political Party (PPP). The victim Ajaz Ahmad War further said holding political
belief different from that of State is the birth right of every human being, if
this is a sin committed by Paul. Then why should Peter be punished for the sins
of Paul.
“It’s all about connections. They have given passports to all sorts of
former militants and their kin. And all separatist leaders, including Syed Ali
Shah Geelani, Yasin Malik, Mirwaiz, Shahid-ul-Islam etc.have passports. Why
punish me then?,” he asks. He has a clean record and is not involved in any
activity,and there is nothing adverse in CID record, he claims.
Police officials say they have kept an index of all militants, present and
former, and separatist leaders and their Kith and kins used to be denied
passports even if they were not themselves involved in such activities as a
matter of precaution.
In fact, the issuance of passports and its renewal used to be seen as a
yardstick of how dangerous somebody was perceived by the government. However,
things have become liberal, as the police slowly but surely got better of
militants. (Writer-South Asia)
