Srinagar: Sarjan Ahmad Wagay, a prominent religious cleric currently imprisoned on terror funding charges, is set to contest the upcoming legislative assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir as an independent candidate.
According to family sources, Barkati’s nomination papers will be filed today at the District Commissioner’s office in Shopian. Preparations are already underway, with a meeting held in Reban, Barkati’s native village, before heading to Shopian for the formal submission.
Barkati’s daughter is expected to address the media in a press conference before the nomination process.
Barkati gained notoriety as the face of the 2016 unrest following the death of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani. He was initially arrested on October 1, 2016, and released in October 2020. However, he was rearrested by the State Investigation Agency (SIA) in August of last year on charges related to terror funding, and he remains in custody. His wife was also arrested subsequently.
