Mehbooba Mufti Criticized by Sajad Lone as Kashmir Tensions Escalate

People's Conference president Sajad Gani Lone accused PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti of defaming the entire political class of Kashmir, demanding an unconditional apology for her remarks that linked the party to agency operations and justified pellet and bullet firing. Lone said the PDP was created by agencies and urged Mufti to acknowledge past violence during her tenure as chief minister.

Mufti, in response, announced protests across all district headquarters in Jammu and Kashmir on August 5, calling for the restoration of the region’s special status. The announcement comes amid reports of civilian killings by Pakistani forces in Pakistan‑occupied Jammu and Kashmir, where over 80 people have been reported dead since June. An op‑ed highlighted the lack of condemnation from mainstream Kashmiri politicians, linking the political rhetoric to the ongoing violence in the disputed area.