New Delhi, 03 August (H.S.): The Delhi High Court on Monday issued a notice to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) while hearing a petition filed by Dukhtaran-e-Millat chief Aasiya Andrabi and two of her associates challenging the conviction and sentences awarded by a trial court in a terror funding case. A bench headed by Justice Prathiba M. Singh directed the issuance of the notice. The next hearing in the matter will be held in October.

Apart from Aasiya Andrabi, the trial court’s order has been challenged before the High Court by Sofi Fehmeeda and Nahida Nasreen. On March 24, the Patiala House Court sentenced Aasiya Andrabi to life imprisonment, while Sofi Fehmeeda and Nahida Nasreen were awarded 30 years of imprisonment each.

The trial court had convicted all three accused under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including Sections 120B (criminal conspiracy), 121 (waging war against the state), 121A (conspiracy to commit offences against the state), 124A (sedition), 153A, 153B, and 505, along with Sections 18, 20, and 39 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

A case was registered against the accused in April 2020 for alleged anti-national activities and delivering hate speeches in Jammu and Kashmir. The NIA had registered a case against them and their organisation in April 2018. Dukhtaran-e-Millat is a banned organisation under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.

According to the NIA, the accused were allegedly conducting campaigns to seek support from foreign sources and intended to harm the sovereignty and integrity of the country. The agency alleged that Dukhtaran-e-Millat observed March 23, 2018, as Pakistan Day.

During an event organised on that occasion, Aasiya Andrabi allegedly stated that all Muslims of the Indian subcontinent were Pakistanis on the basis of religion, faith, and their love for the Prophet. The Pakistani national anthem was also reportedly played during the programme.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar