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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Samson's unbeaten 87 powers CSK to eight-wicket win over DC
New Delhi (PTI): Sanju Samson bossed the chase with authority, anchoring a modest 156-run target with a fluent 87 not out as Chennai Super Kings outclassed Delhi Capitals by eight wickets in the IPL here on Tuesday.
Samson's knock came off just 52 balls with seven fours and six sixes, batting through the innings as CSK completed the chase in just 17.3 overs giving a huge boost to their net run-rate.
Electing to bat on a tricky surface, Delhi Capitals were restricted to 155/7.
West Indies left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein set the tone with the new ball, returning tidy figures of 1/19, including 14 dot balls.
Reduced to 69/5 in 11 overs, Delhi found some late impetus through Tristan Stubbs (38; 31 balls) and Sameer Rizvi (40 not out; 24 balls), who stitched together a crucial 65-run (off 47 balls) stand to give the innings a respectable total.
Brief Scores:
Delhi Capitals: 155 for 7 in 20 overs (Tristan Stubbs 38, Sameer Rizvi 40 not out; Noor Ahmed 2/22)
Chennai Super Kings 159 for two in 17.3 overs (Sanju Samson 87 not out, Kartik Sharma 41 not out). CSK win by eight wickets.
