Srinagar, Sept 9, KDC: Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather on Tuesday said that action will be taken against MLA Waheed Parra for making misleading statements about the PSA detention of Doda MLA Mehraj Malik. Parra had claimed that the Assembly endorsed Malik’s detention under the Public Safety Act, a statement the Speaker described as “completely wrong” and “misleading.”
Addressing the issue, Speaker Rather said that Parra was unaware of the Assembly rules and had spoken incorrectly. “Such misleading statements will not be tolerated. Those spreading false information should be punished as per the law,” he added.
The Speaker clarified that neither the Assembly nor its Secretariat has any role in approving or disapproving arrests. “Only the Speaker has the authority in such matters. Whenever a member is arrested, it is the duty of the Speaker to inform fellow members. This is the end of our role,” he said.
Rather further explained that when the Assembly was informed about Mehraj Malik’s arrest, its sole role was to communicate this information to members, without interfering in the process. “There is no involvement of the Speaker or the Assembly Secretariat in the arrest decision. Rules will be followed and punishment given if needed,” he added. (KDC)
