Mirwaiz Umar Farooq allowed to deliver Friday sermon amid tensions following Pahalgam attack
Srinagar: In a significant development, moderate Hurriyat Conference chairman and Kashmir’s chief cleric, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, has been granted permission to deliver the Friday sermon at Srinagar’s historic Jamia Masjid after being barred for four consecutive weeks. The decision comes in the backdrop of heightened tensions in the Valley following the recent terror attack in Pahalgam that claimed at least 26 lives, most of them tourists from other Indian states.
Mirwaiz’s office confirmed the development in a post on X, stating that authorities had verbally informed them about the permission to attend Friday prayers at the Nowhatta mosque. He had previously been restricted to his residence, with security agencies preventing his weekly religious engagement without formal written orders.
The recent attack in Pahalgam, where gunmen reportedly targeted non-Muslim civilians, has triggered widespread outrage across the country. In its aftermath, Kashmiri students and civilians in states like Punjab and Uttar Pradesh have allegedly faced assaults and intimidation, further escalating the communal tension.
Reacting to the development, former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti welcomed the move as “deeply needed,” particularly in light of the grief and anxiety gripping Kashmir after the attack. “The people of Kashmir are seeking solace. Let us raise our hands together as one community to pray for the souls of the departed, for strength to their families, and for lasting peace,” Mufti posted on X.
Since the reading down of Article 370 in August 2019, Mirwaiz had largely remained under house arrest, with limited public appearances. Although he has been allowed to attend social and religious events with increasing frequency in recent months, the continued restriction on his mosque visits had drawn criticism from civil society and human rights groups.
Mirwaiz has consistently described the curbs on his movement as a violation of his constitutional and religious freedoms. His return to the pulpit today is being seen not only as a religious gesture but also as a symbolic moment amid a climate of fear and political uncertainty.
Mirwaiz, whose father was assassinated during the early years of the Kashmir insurgency, has played a pivotal role in dialogue initiatives, including participation in Track-II diplomacy efforts involving India, Pakistan, and other stakeholders during the first NDA government led by the BJP.
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IMF approves USD 206 million emergency funding for cyclone-hit Sri Lanka's recovery
Colombo (PTI): The IMF has approved an emergency funding of USD 206 million under its rapid finance instrument to help Sri Lanka “address the urgent needs arising from the catastrophic Cyclone Ditwah and preserve macroeconomic stability”.
The cyclone caused widespread destruction in the island nation and left over 643 people dead.
In a statement issued on Friday, the Washington-based International Monetary Fund (IMF) said the disaster has created urgent humanitarian and reconstruction needs, generating significant fiscal pressures and balance-of-payments needs.
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The emergency financial support provided by the IMF under the rapid finance instrument will help address these pressures, it said.
The IMF added that the cyclone devastation hit when the Fifth Review of Sri Lanka’s USD 2.9 billion bailout was nearing completion.
“Given the time needed to assess the economic impact of the cyclone and examine how an IMF-supported programme can best support Sri Lanka’s recovery and reconstruction efforts while preserving objectives and policy priorities, the Fifth Review has been deferred," it said.
"An IMF mission team will visit Sri Lanka in early 2026 to resume discussions,” it added.
The 48-month extended fund facility deal with the IMF in March 2023 carried hard reforms to Sri Lanka's welfare-based governance.
It was signed after Sri Lanka plunged into an unprecedented economic meltdown with its first-ever sovereign default.
Several hours before the IMF decision, the parliament here approved without a vote a supplementary estimate of LKR 500 billion, which the government said was required to restore the livelihoods of those affected by the disaster.
