London, 7 May 1998

The Indian government used local bailiffs in London to deliver its official notice of 'banning' the UK based Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) from taking part in lawful activities in pursuant to its goals for re-unified independent homeland.

A notice issued by the Jammu & Kashmir Affairs Division in Delhi, claiming that the JKLF 'activities being prejudicial to the security and integrity of the nation' under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (section 3), was posted on the windows of the JKLF London office on Cambridge Road at early morning. The notification claimed that the ban would be effective from 17 February, 1998 for two years.

Commenting on the latest Indian ploy, the JKLF secretary general in London Azmat Khan said that it was a laughable 'ban' as the Indian government had no jurisdiction to serve a Banning Order to a duly constituted political organisation based in the UK.

"Unless India considers London as one of its colonies we cannot see any logic in this action. It is another attempt by the government of India and its puppet state administration to harass and intimidate JKLF workers in the UK. Under the international law India herself is unlawfully occupying our country and as such all her actions are illegal and immoral". He added that this latest notification would be placed in the bin, which was quite an appropriate place for it.