Srinagar, Nov 10: Imtiyaz Parray, the former Congress leader and the son of slain counter-insurgent commander, Kuka Parray on Thursday joined the Jammu Kashmir Apni Party.

Imtiyaz’s father Kuka Parrey was founder of Ikhwan, a counter-insurgency militia formed in 1994-95 to fight militancy. In September this year, Imtiyaz resigned from basic membership of Congress. However after more than a month, Imtiyaz parray today formally joined the Apni party.

“I welcome Imtiyaz Parray and Noor Mohammad Bhat to the Jammu Kashmir Apni Party. I am confident they will play a big role in strengthening the party in Bandipora district,” Vice President of the Apni Party and former legislator Bandipora Usman Majid said in a tweet.

Kuka Parrey also formed the Jammu & Kashmir Awami League before 1996 assembly polls. It won one seat each in 1996 and 2022 state polls. Imtiyaz fought the 2008 assembly election on the ticket of Awami League but later joined Congress. This party became dysfunctional after he joined Congress and was deregistered by the Election Commission of India in June 2022.kno