Within hours after earning a reprieve from the Court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate Srinagar, National Conference President Dr Farooq Abdullah, Thursday evening, attended an Iftar party hosted by one of the Cabinet colleagues of Omar Abdullah in Jammu.
At the Iftar, Dr Abdullah mingled with the prominent citizens and came across hale and hearty.
Before Dr Abdullah stepped out of his fortified residence in the Bhatindi area on the outskirts, where security was further beefed up after a failed assassination bid on him on Wednesday night, the Court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) had recalled a non-bailable warrant (NBW) issued earlier in the day against him in the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) scam case.
Upon learning of the CJM Court’s rejection of the exemption application, counsel for Dr Abdullah submitted a new application setting out the specific reasons preventing Abdullah from appearing in court.
It was submitted in the fresh application that there was an assassination bid on Abdullah’s life on Wednesday night during a marriage reception in the Greater Kailash area.
The application read that the bid has impacted Abdullah physically and psychologically, including fluctuating blood pressure and cardiac distress.
“The Applicant has been placed under strict clinical observation and Restricted Security Protocol. His medical consultants have strictly prohibited any travel, particularly air or road travel between Jammu and Srinagar, as the same would pose a grave risk to his life and health”.
It also said that Abdullah is a senior citizen, aged 88 years and is suffering from multiple age-related ailments and is currently under a high-risk medical category.
However, before the court proceedings took place, Dr Abdullah was seen addressing a press conference in the sprawling lawns of his private residence in Jammu. He also met a large gathering of party leaders and prominent citizens who called on him to learn about his well-being after he escaped unhurt during the firing incident.
While issuing a non-bailable warrant against him, the CJM Court had first rejected the exemption application filed on behalf of Abdullah, noting that his counsel stated that the accused could neither appear physically nor through virtual mode.
On Friday, the National Conference president returned to Srinagar and visited the Hazratbal shrine to offer Jumat-ul-Vida prayers. Interacting with the media Dr Abdullah wished a swift end to the war in West Asia, ascribing the shortage of fuel in Indian markets to the conflict that has led to the closing of the Strait of Hormuz, a key oil route.
“The shortage of fuel and gas is due to a war that is going on. Let’s hope and pray that this war ends soon,” Abdullah told reporters at Hazratbal shrine here.
Abdullah said some forces were trying to destroy Islam. “May Allah destroy them (who want to destroy Islam),” he said.
The party president urged the people to stay united. “We can move forward only when we are together.