Ex-IAS Shah Faesal steps down as J&K People's Movement president

Former civil servant Shah Faesal has stepped down as the president of Jammu and Kashmir People’s Movement (JKPM), which he had floated last year. The party’s vice-president Feroze Peerzada has been appointed as the interim chief till formal elections are held for the post.

Faesal, who had resigned from the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) before floating his own party last year, had dropped a hint about stepping away from politics on Sunday. He had edited his personal details on Twitter, removing the reference to his political affiliations.

Last year, former JNU student leader Shehla Rashid, who had joined JKPM, also announced her resignation from electoral politics. According to ThePrint, Faesal had even told his party cadre that he may dissolve the party entirely and relocate outside the country.

The former civil servant could not be contacted for comments.

The JKPM’s executive committee held an online meeting on Monday to discuss the ongoing political developments in the state, the party said in a statement.

“In the meeting, request of Dr Shah Faesal to spare him from the organisational responsibilities was discussed. Dr Shah Faesal had informed state executive members that he is not in a position to continue with political activities and wants to be freed from the responsibilities of the organisation,” the JKPM said.

“Keeping in view this request, it was decided to accept his request so that he can better continue with his life and contribute whichever way he chooses,” the party said.

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The JKPM statement said it has been unanimously decided to appoint vice president Feroze Peerzada as interim president till formal elections can be held for the post of president. The committee also accepted the resignation of its chairman Javed Mustafa Mir, who is a former MLA, it said.

Faesal, who surprised everyone by resigning from the government service in January 2019, had floated his own political party two months later. He was arrested in August last year, a week after the Centre revoked the special status of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, and divided it into union territories of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh. Faesal was booked under the stringent Public Safety Act later on and released in June.

(With inputs from agencies)

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