J&K High Court allows PDP MLA Waheed Parra to travel outside Union Territory

The J&K High Court on Tuesday allowed Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader and legislator Waheed-ur-Rehmaan Parra, who is facing a case under provisions of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), to travel outside the Union Territory and within the country.

“We are of the considered opinion that it would be in the interest of justice to modify the condition of the aforesaid bail order by providing that the petitioner shall be entitled to leave the Union Territory of J&K and move within the country after intimating his location and purpose of visit to the trial court,” a Division Bench comprising Justice Sanjeev Kumar and Justice Vinod Chatterji Koul observed.

Mr. Parra, who is a PDP Member of the Legislative Assembly from Pulwama, had challenged the earlier order that barred his travel outside J&K. “An MLA has to move out of the Union Territory time and again in connection with his official and other duties and this condition is creating a lot of hardship and inconvenience,” Shariq Reyaz, counsel for Mr. Parra, told the court.

Commenting on the order, Mr. Parra said the relief came after five years of a painful legal battle. “Throughout these difficult, dark years, one institution that continued to give hope, the judiciary. Today, I’m thankful to the J&K High Court for restoring this small but meaningful part of my freedom,” Mr. Parra said.

He said there were moments in the past five years when his family needed him in times of grief and loss. “All I could do was wait and feel the helplessness, which leaves a mark that never truly fades. You begin to understand the meaning of freedom only when it is taken from you and you feel the suffering of others more deeply when you have carried that weight yourself,” Mr. Parra, who was arrested in 2020 and booked under provisions of UAPA, said.

“Over the years, I have met families living under similar restraints and their pain has stayed with me every single day and today I am reminded of how many people still live with silent burdens,” Mr. Parra added.