Separatists call off protest after SC defers hearing on Article 35A

Srinagar: Kashmiri separatists withdrew its five-day protest programme against a move to get Article 35A of the Constitution repealed, after the Supreme Court on Friday deferred hearing on a petition challenging the validity of the provision.

"The protest programme, including the proposed strike on August 29, is postponed for the time being as the hearing," separatist leaders, including chairmen of both factions of Hurriyat Conference Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, and JKLF chief Yasin Malik said in a statement here.

A new protest schedule would be issued whenever needed, they added.

The Supreme Court agreed to hear after Diwali pleas challenging Article 35 A, relating to special rights and privileges of permanent residents of Jammu and Kashmir.

A bench headed by Justice J S Khehar accepted the plea of the Jammu and Kashmir government that the pleas challenging Article 35A be heard after Diwali.

The case was listed for hearing on August 29 and the separatists had given a strike call for across the state that day.

The separatists had earlier issued a protest schedule against the legal challenge to the provision.