J&K govt orders Geelani's release

The Jammu and Kashmir government on Saturday ordered the release of former Hurriyat Conference chairman and senior Jammat-e-Islami leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani on parole after about nine months of detention under the Public Safety Act, .

The decision to release Geelani, presently undergoing treatment at the Tata Memorial Hospital in Mumabi, was taken after Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed apprised Deputy Prime Minister Lal Kishenchand Advani about the senior separatist leader's deteriorating health.

Geelani was arrested on June 9 last year following a series of raids conducted by the Income Tax department and the Jammu and Kashmir police to put an end to funding of militant oufits in the Valley.