Srinagar: Terming arrest of a renowned female photojournalist Masrat Zehra a futile attempt at thought policing People’s Democratic Party in a statement issued today demanded immediate rescinding of FIR against her.

With this move a very low threshold bar has been set for tolerating contrarian views, party spokesperson Najmu Saqib said and added such arbitrary application of laws wipes the shine off the veneer of democracy.

“A systematic pattern of assault on freedom of expression is underway in J&K. Anyone not toeing the statist line is reportedly harassed, intimated and a vilification campaign unleashed’” party spokesperson said.

The fraternity operates in a very hostile terrain yet valiantly continues to deliver its professional and moral obligations, Saqib said and added “Journalists in Kashmir work in war like conditions to keep the public informed sometimes even at the cost of their lives,”.

“Slapping UAPA, an anti terrorism law against Masrat Zahra a female journalist for merely representing a contrarian view is a manifestation of the urge to control the tone & tempo of the conversation in & on Kashmir,” PDP spokesperson.

Noting that a pattern of intimidation is ongoing party spokesperson said “ It has also come to our attention that correspondents of Outlook, The Hindu and The Print were also harassed for merely discharging there professional duties,”

PDP spokesperson also requested authorities to desist & immediately cease such harassment of the members of journalism fraternity.