Srinagar: Tehreek-e-Hurriyat chairman Mohammad Ashraf Sehrai on Wednesday strongly condemned the raid on the residence of senior journalist and Editor of daily “Afaaq” Ghulam Jeelani Qadri and his subsequent “arrest”.

In a statement, Sehrai also condemned the declaring of veteran journalist a proclaimed offender when the said person as usual was performing his daily routine work including his professional duties at his office. Sehrai expressed his support and solidarity with the veteran journalist.

He said free press is a bedrock and essential ingredient of every civilised society. 

Sehrai said, journalist fraternity in Kashmir has often faced such situation for the last 30 years in particular, when the authoritarians seek to consolidate power against the will of the people.

He reiterated his demand for journalists to be free from harassment and intimidation, he added.