Former district president of the banned Jamat-e-Islami (JeI), Hafiz Sikander Ahmad Malik, will contest from the Bandipora Assembly Constituency, submitting his nomination papers today.
Reportedly, after extensive internal discussions and feedback from senior JeI cadre, Malik was given the go-ahead to run as an independent candidate. He is expected to submit his nomination at the ARO’s Office in the Mini-Secretariat Bandipora around 1:00 PM.
A resident of Gundpora, Malik previously led JeI until its ban and was arrested in 2019 following the abrogation of Article 370. He faced charges under PSA and UAPA but was released on bail in December 2023. Malik holds a postgraduate degree in Arabic from IUST Awantipora. (KDC)
