SRINAGAR: The flags of Pakistan were raised here on Friday ahead of talks scheduled to be held between the national security advisers (NSAs) of India and Pakistan.

The flags were seen near Jamia Masjid in Nowhatta.

Kashmiri leader Shabbir Shah said the Indian government should review its rigid stand over the talks because its stand was very weak.

Know more: Kashmiri leader waves Pakistani flag at rally in Srinagar

Mr Shah told the ANI news agency: “Discussions (between India and Pakistan) won’t make progress without the Kashmir issue.... It is not right to dictate the government of Pakistan that it should not meet the Hurriyat leaders. Government of India should reject this rigidness; their stand is very weak.”

He said the Kashmir issue was very important and if the Indian government wanted to discuss it with the Kashmiri leaders they were ready for a dialogue.

Meanwhile, the high court of Jammu and Kashmir quashed on Friday the detention under the Public Safety Act of Kashmiri leader Masarat Alam who was arrested for allegedly hoisting Pakistani flags and chanting anti-India slogans.

Justice Hasnain Masoodi, who had earlier reserved his order on the petition filed by Mr Alam’s counsel, quashed the detention of the 45-year-old leader.

Mr Alam was arrested on April 17 for allegedly raising Pakistani flags and chanting anti-India slogans during a rally organised by the Hurriyat Conference to welcome Syed Ali Shah Geelani from New Delhi.

Police had registered a case against several leaders including Hurriyat Confe­rence chairman Geelani for activities like hoisting the Pakistani flag.

—By arrangement with the Times of India

Published in Dawn, August 22nd, 2015

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