Former J&K Bar President Arrested for Role in Advocate's Murder

The Jammu and Kashmir Police have arrested former High Court Bar Association President Mian Qayoom for his alleged involvement in the 2020 murder of advocate Babar Qadri. Qadri, a human rights expert, was killed at his residence. Qayoom's association with pro-Pakistan separatist Syed Ali Shah Geelani and substantial evidence led to his arrest.

In a significant development, the Jammu and Kashmir Police arrested Mian Qayoom, the former President of the J&K High Court Bar Association, on Tuesday. Qayoom is accused of being involved in the 2020 murder conspiracy of fellow advocate Babar Qadri.

Known for his strong ties with pro-Pakistan separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Qayoom was detained after the State Investigation Agency (SIA) amassed substantial evidence against him, officials confirmed. Babar Qadri, a prominent human rights advocate frequently seen in television debates, was brutally killed in September 2020 at his Hawal residence. He had previously survived an assassination bid in 2018.

Authorities have identified Qayoom as the primary suspect in the conspiracy. He is notably the father-in-law of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court judge Justice Javed Iqbal Wani. The police, in a concerted effort to resolve the case, formed a Special Investigation Team, eventually handing over the probe to the SIA.

In a related effort, August 2022 saw police searches at Qayoom's and other lawyers' residences in Srinagar, resulting in the confiscation of digital devices and documents crucial to the investigation. The SIA even announced a Rs 10 lakh reward for information leading to Qadri's assailants.

Qadri had publicly criticized the bar association's leadership, particularly targeting Qayoom, and voiced safety concerns before his death. His accusations included claims of Qayoom stifling dissent and turning the bar association into a mouthpiece for Geelani's Hurriyat Conference faction.

The investigation also alleged links to Lashkar-e-Taiba commander Saqib Manzoor, involved in Qadri's killing, who was later killed in a police encounter. Earlier this year, the case was transferred to a Jammu court to ensure a fair trial, as influenced Srinagar lawyers refused legal assistance.