Pir Saifullah being denied basic medical care: Hurriyat (G)

Srinagar: Expressing concern over the detreorating health of senior APHC leader Pir Saifullah, the amalgam has said that the leader is in need of an immediate head surgery as CT scans have shown a cyst developed in his head. Though doctors have advised him an immediate surgery to remove the cyst but the lackadaisical approach by the jail authorities has lent the life of the leader into a grave danger. APHC reiterated that if anything untoward happens to Mr. Saifullah, its responsibility will fall on to the government. In a press statement the amalgam also castigated the house arrest of Mass Movement chairperson Mrs. Fareeda Behanji. Police cordoned off her residence in the wee hours of Friday and restricted her movement. The spokesperson said that Pir Saifullah was brought for a checkup to Sadr Hospital from Srinagar Central Jail. But he was immediately referred to Soura Institute of Medical Sciences after doctors diagnosed the cyst in his head. Doctors at the institute advised him for an immediate surgery but instead of being kept at the hospital Pir Saifullah was shifted back to the jail. The spokesperson said that the cyst has developed as a result of the torture that Saifullah had to bear after his arrest a few years ago. He is suffering from acute headaches due to the cyst and it is only because of political vendetta that he is being denied the basic medical care in captivity. Spokesperson said that political prisoners are being victimized all over the state in various jails and it is a high time that international organizations like Red Cross and Amnesty International intervene to save these prisoners in distress. Spokesperson also condemned the house arrest of Farida Behanji without any written orders and said that this shows the degree of lawlessness in the state where people are being held captive without any formal orders. Spokesperson sought the intervention of international humanitarian organizations into the human rights abuses prevalent in the state.