The Jammu and Kashmir administration on Monday detained Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) state chief and MLA Mehraj Malik under the stringent Public Safety Act (PSA) in Doda for allegedly disturbing public order.
The Doda MLA, lone legislator from the Arvind Kejriwal-led party in the erstwhile state, was detained after an FIR was filed against him for allegedly using abusive language against DC Doda Harvinder Singh
It is learnt that a few days back, the MLA had lashed out at the senior official and accused the administration of misusing officials to enforce a strike.
Meanwhile, security has been heightened in Doda to thwart any protest or agitation in this regard.
This is the first time that a sitting MLA has been detained under the PSA, an administrative law that allows detention without charge or trial for up to two years in some cases.
PDP MLA Waheed Para took to X and condemned the detention, saying, “Strongly condemn the use of PSA against MLA Mehraj Malik. Such draconian laws are weaponised to silence political voices & crush dissent. Such authoritarian measures are no way to resolve differences in a democracy.”
Strongly condemn the use of PSA against MLA Mehraj Malik. Such draconian laws are weaponised to silence political voices & crush dissent. Such authoritarian measures are no way to resolve differences in a democracy.
— Waheed Para (@parawahid) September 8, 2025
JKPC leader Sajjad Lone also condemned the use of the PSA against Malik, saying that it is a very sad day for an already endangered democracy.
“We strongly condemn the use of the PSA against @MehrajMalikAAP. This is a soulless democracy. The will of the people of J and K continues to be subservient. What is the fun of having elections if an elected representative cannot voice his sentiments. A very sad day for an already endangered democracy,” he said in a post on X.
We strongly condemn the use of the PSA against @MehrajMalikAAP This is a soulless democracy.
The will of the people of J and K continues to be subservient. What is the fun of having elections if an elected representative cannot voice his sentiments. A very sad day for an…— Sajad Lone (@sajadlone) September 8, 2025
In the 2024 Jammu and Kashmir elections, Malik defeated his nearest rival from the BJP in Doda constituency by a margin of over 4,538 votes and registered the first win for his party in the Union territory.
He won the District Development Council elections from Kahara constituency of Doda on December 24, 2020. He resigned from the post after winning the assembly elections in October last year.
(With inputs from agencies)
