Srinagar, March 12 A local court on Thursday recalled a warrant requiring Farooq Abdullah, the former chief minister, to appear in court in the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) scam case, just hours after issuing it. This decision was made after considering Abdullah's condition following an attack the previous day.
Earlier in the day, Chief Judicial Magistrate Srinagar, Tabassum, had issued the warrant after Abdullah failed to appear in court either in person or online.
However, Abdullah's lawyer, Ishtiyaq Khan, moved an application seeking the recall of the warrant, citing that medical consultants for the former chief minister had advised against any travel after the life-threatening attack on him in Jammu last night.
"While the applicant survived the attack, the physical and psychological trauma has severely worsened his pre-existing medical conditions, including fluctuating blood pressure and cardiac distress," Khan said in the application.
Khan stated that, as a result of the attack, Abdullah is under strict medical observation and a "Restricted Security Protocol."
"His medical consultants have strictly prohibited any travel, particularly air or road travel between Jammu and Srinagar, as this would pose a grave risk to his life and health. Given these insurmountable circumstances, the applicant was unable to appear before this Hon'ble Court today," he added.
The court had earlier rejected Abdullah's application for exemption from personal appearance.
The court also rejected an exemption application from another accused, Manzoor Gazanfar Ali, and issued a warrant requiring his appearance.
The matter has been posted for March 30.
