Mehbooba Mufti Urges Government to Lift Ban on Jamaat-e-Islami for Election Participation

PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti has urged the government to lift the ban on Jamaat-e-Islami, allowing it to contest in upcoming elections. She criticized National Conference's Omar Abdullah for his remarks on the change in Jamaat-e-Islami's stance on elections. Mufti also accused the National Conference of election irregularities in the past.

PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti urged the government on Friday to lift the ban on Jamaat-e-Islami to allow it to participate in upcoming elections. She termed democracy as a 'battle of ideas' and called the ban on the organization regrettable.

Mufti criticized National Conference vice-president Omar Abdullah for his remarks suggesting that participation in elections by Jamaat-e-Islami, previously deemed 'haram', is now considered 'halal'.

She accused the National Conference of viewing Jammu and Kashmir as a personal fiefdom, citing their historical inconsistencies in labeling elections as 'haram' or 'halal' based on their political power.

(With inputs from agencies.)