Founded in 1998 by Shah, a prominent separatist leader in Jammu and Kashmir, JKDFP was a constituent of the separatist amalgam Hurriyat Conference

The Centre on Thursday banned jailed separatist Shabir Ahmad Shah’s Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party (JKDFP) for five years for its “anti-India” and “pro-Pakistan” activities, according to an official notification.

The ban was ordered under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

Founded in 1998 by Shah, a prominent separatist leader in Jammu and Kashmir, the JKDFP was a constituent of the separatist amalgam Hurriyat Conference.

Shah is currently lodged in Delhi’s Tihar Jail. He was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on July 25, 2017, in a 2005 money laundering case.

He has also been charge-sheeted by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in a terror-funding case.

The centre has systematically cornered these separatists and cut whatsoever little influence they had over the people of J&K.