Hakeem Yaseen seeks urgent medical care for ailing detainees Dr. Fayaz and Shabir Shah

SRINAGAR: Peoples Democratic Front (PDF) President and former Minister Hakeem Mohammad Yaseen on Friday appealed to the Jammu and Kashmir administration to ensure immediate medical attention for incarcerated political leaders Dr. Abdul Hameed Fayaz and Shabir Ahmad Shah, both of whom are reportedly in deteriorating health.

Expressing deep concern, Hakeem Yaseen said that Dr. Fayaz, the former Ameer-e-Jamaat currently lodged in Srinagar Central Jail, is unwell and in urgent need of medical care. Similarly, Shabir Shah, who is under detention outside Jammu and Kashmir, is also reported to be suffering from serious health issues without adequate medical facilities.

“This is a matter of human dignity and constitutional rights. Denying medical treatment to those in custody is not only unethical but a grave violation of human rights,” Yaseen said. He added that access to healthcare is a basic right guaranteed under law, and the state must not compromise on this, regardless of a person’s political background. “This is not about ideology; it is about humanity. The government must rise above politics and respond with compassion.”

Calling on the Lieutenant Governor’s administration and concerned agencies to intervene immediately, Hakeem Yaseen stressed that any delay in medical attention could have life-threatening consequences. “The health condition of both Dr. Fayaz and Shabir Shah deserves urgent attention. They must be shifted to appropriate medical facilities for thorough examination and treatment without delay,” he urged.

Yaseen also appealed to civil society, human rights organizations, and religious bodies to raise their voice for the humane treatment of all detainees, especially those facing health complications. "A society is judged by how it treats its most vulnerable—even those behind bars. Let the message go out that we remain committed to justice, dignity, and humanity," Yaseen concluded.