PDP youth leader with pending police case named inaugural Yale Peace Fellow

SRINAGAR — Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) youth leader Waheed-ur-Rehman Para, against whom a police case is still pending in the court of law, has been named the inaugural Yale Peace Fellow at Yale’s International Leadership Center.

The Peace Fellowship brings emerging leaders on peace to Yale for an intensive period of research, mentoring and training; and to participate in high-level strategy events on peace and conflict resolution.

Para, as per Emma Sky, director of the International Leadership Center at Yale, is a native of India and is a political leader who has dedicated his life to the cause of strengthening democracy and peace in Kashmir.

Former Jammu Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has congratulated Para on his selection as the inaugural Yale Peace Fellow at Yale University. “His contributions towards strengthening democracy and peace in Kashmir have been outstanding. I wish him luck,” she said.

PDP leader Naeem Akhtar said that at home Waheed Para faces UAPA. “Before getting bail in multiple cases by NIA, SIA, he was detained for over six months, interrogated, and jailed for two years. Waheed has a lead role to play in resolving conflict around J&K, involving youth in the democratic process. He’s a leader of peace,” Naeem Akhtar said.