Jailed separatist Yasin Malik abandons murder defence and divorces wife
Jailed separatist leader Yasin Malik has shocked a Srinagar court by refusing to defend himself in the 1990 murder of Kashmiri Pandit nurse Sarla Bhat. Submitting a 25-page affidavit from Tihar Jail through his lawyer Abu Adil Pandit, the banned Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front chief declared he is ready to face the death penalty. Within this same legal document, he also announced his decision to divorce his Pakistani wife, Mushaal Hussein Mullick, ending their 16-year marriage.
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This legal retreat does not mean an admission of guilt, according to his court filing. Malik insists political motives led to his false implication. He noted that his decision came only after completing 'Istikhara', a traditional Islamic prayer for guidance. This mirrors his legal strategy from May 2022, when he refused to contest terror-funding charges in a Delhi court and subsequently received a life sentence, which investigators are currently trying to upgrade to capital punishment.
Tragic 1990 Kashmiri Pandit Murder
Sarla Bhat worked as a staff nurse at the Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences in Srinagar. Militants abducted her in April 1990 during a peak period of regional unrest, and authorities recovered her body several days later. Her brutal killing struck deep fear into the local community. For decades, the investigation remained completely cold until the State Investigation Agency reopened it in 2025. With three co-accused already dead and another evading capture, Malik remains the sole surviving high-profile suspect facing trial. The next court hearing is scheduled for September 19.
Ending Family Ties from Tihar Prison
Beyond the criminal proceedings, Malik used his court submission to formally cut ties with his family. He married Pakistani activist Mushaal Hussein Mullick in 2009. She recently worked as a special advisor on human rights for Pakistan's caretaker government between 2023 and 2025. Explaining his painful choice, the jailed leader stated that prison authorities have blocked all phone and video contact with his wife for eight years. He expressed a strong desire for her to start a fresh chapter with dignity rather than living her entire life like a widow. Finally, he addressed his 13-year-old daughter, Razia Sultana. He urged the teenager to speak with her grandmother for at least five minutes every day to maintain a sense of family support. He expressed deep regret over his absence from their daily lives.
The Affidavit as submitted by - JKLF Chief Yasin Malik
