Bengaluru: The Jammu and Kashmir administration has ordered the immediate release of former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Farooq Abdullah. The order of his detention was revoked on Friday.

Abdullah was among the three former chief ministers who were put under house arrest ever since the Centre decided to abrogate Article 370 to integrate Jammu and Kashmir with India. The order of revocation was issued by the principal secretary to the government of Jammu and Kashmir.

The order said that in exercise of the powers under section 19 (1) of the Jammu and Kashmir Public Safety Act, 1978, the government hereby revokes the detention order dated September 15, 2019 issued by the District Magistrate, extended for a period of three months and then extended further for a period of three months of Dr. Farooq Abdullah. The order said that this would come into place with immediate effect.

While welcoming the decision, the National Conference said that the decision is the right step in restoring the political process in Jammu and Kashmir. The NC also urged the government to set Omar Abdullah, the party’s Vice President also free. As the pre-eminent political party of Jammu and Kashmir, the National Conference has played a key role in strengthening the voice of the people through democracy and will continue to do so," the National Conference said.