Sakina Itoo, senior National Conference leader, has reiterated that the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) should be revoked in Jammu and Kashmir, citing improved security conditions across the region.
Speaking in the Assembly, she argued that once statehood is restored, her party will work to repeal the Public Safety Act (PSA) and review AFSPA, stressing that democratic authority must replace extraordinary laws.
Itoo emphasized that FIRs against youth detained under PSA should be scrapped, and those jailed outside J&K must be brought back home. She accused previous regimes of detaining children and sending them to prisons outside the state.
AFSPA, which grants sweeping powers to armed forces in disturbed areas, has long been controversial. Supporters argue it is essential for countering militancy and infiltration, while critics highlight human rights concerns. Itoo’s statement reflects growing calls for revocation as the security situation stabilizes.
Her remarks underline the political and social implications of repealing AFSPA: restoring confidence in governance, easing resentment among youth, and signaling a shift toward normalcy in Jammu and Kashmir.
