The Disciplinary Committee of High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh has issued notice to three lawyers, Mian Abdul Qayoom, Nazir Ronga and Ghulam Nabi Thoker alias Shaheen for committing professional and other misconduct under the Advocates Act, 1961.
The Disciplinary Committee has asked the lawyers to appear before it on 17th December 2022. It is learnt prima facie allegations against Qayoom and two others amount to professional misconduct.
A complaint was filed against the three advocates for appropriate action on the basis of detailed investigation carried out by the law enforcement agencies. The investigation report had said that Mian Abdul Qayoom is known for his anti-national and secessionist stand.
“He has been instrumental in endorsing hartal calls and protest demonstrations throughout the Kashmir valley,” the investigation report has revealed.
The report further revealed that in 1990, Qayoom openly came out in support of the secessionist movement and presented a memorandum to UNMOGIP Hqrs, at Srinagar. He was solely responsible for making High Court Bar Association as a constituent part of All Party Hurriyat Conference and drafting the constitution of Bar Association, wherein it was provided in the aims and objectives to secure secession of J&K from Union of India.
While recording his statement as witness in contempt petition No.11/2010 against Superintendent Kot Bhalwal Jail and others in Hon’ble High Court Srinagar on April 07, 2010, Qayoom challenged the Indian constitution and said that “I do not believe in the Constitution of India.”
A detailed investigation carried out the law enforcement agencies has said that in April 2005 Qayoom made a public statement openly supporting terrorists and said that armed struggle should continue till goal of azadi is achieved.
In December 2007, he attended a seminar titled Qaid e Azam organised by Muslim league to commemorate the birth of Mohammed Ali Jinnah. “In June 2008 Qayoom played a key role in instigating the people against the government during the Amarnath Land row. In October 2008 led a procession up to Lal Chowk raising slogans in support of freedom. In March, 2009 he said that Kashmiri people should be proud of 18 “Mujahideen” who sacrificed their lives at Kupwara.
Mian Qayoom and J&K High Court Bar Association in the name of free legal aid defends the cases of all the terrorist and stone pelters. Qayoom claims that the assistance is given free of cost, however, reports contrarily suggest that Qayoom draws huge sums from Pakistan and terrorist organization for fighting their cases.
Heading the legal cell established and funded by Pakistan ISI, he along with battery of lawyers including late Advocate Shafqat Hussian would plead and secure favourable decisions in all cases pertaining to entities involved in terrorism and secessionism since 1990, law enforcement agencies investigation had revealed.
The report had further observed that Ghulam Nabi Thoker alias Shaheen is a known secessionist element. “In February 2009, Ghulam Nabi Thoker alias Shaheen while speaking in a seminar asked the self-styled separatist leadership to shun their differences and fight unitedly for seceding J&K from Union of India,” the investigation has revealed.
Similarly, the investigators have unearthed wrongdoings of Advocate Nazir Ronga. “Nazir Ronga openly expressed sympathies towards the terrorists and defended individuals accused of terror actions. During the 2008 Shri Amarnath Shrine Board land transfer row, Ronga played an active role in provoking people. He had also threatened Advocates for appearing before courts during the Hartal call given by an illegal bar association,” the investigation has revealed.