A special court of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday ordered the attachment of properties of Ghulam Nabi Shah, alias Dr Fai, in a case registered against him under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). The court has ordered the attachment of over 1.5 kanals of land belonging to ‘Dr. Fai’, a Kashmiri lobbyist residing in the US and a convicted agent of Pakistan’s ISI. The land, totalling approximately 8,100 square feet, is located in the villages of Wadwan and Chattabugh in Budgam district. Judge Yahaya Firdous passed the order after Assistant Public Prosecutor Mohammad Iqbal Rather moved an application seeking attachment of property of Fai under Section 83 of the Criminal Procedure Code (85 of BNSS).
The court stated in a seven-page order stated, “This court directs collector Budgam to attach the immovable property of land measuring one kanal and two marlas under Khewat No 60, survey No 466 in village Wadwan and land measuring 11 marlas under Khewat No 136, Survey No 343 situated at village Chattabugh (belonging to Fai) and take possession forthwith. Before attaching the property, district collector Budgam shall ensure that the help of revenue authorities is taken to identify and demarcate the property.”
Who is Dr Fai?
Originally from Budgam, Dr. Fai is a US citizen and a supporter of the banned Jamaat-e-Islami. He is considered a close associate of designated terrorist and Hizbul Mujahideen leader Syed Salahuddin. He is accused of supporting a terrorist organisation in the country. Fai was declared a “fugitive” by the court in April this year after he failed to respond to a 30-day notice to appear before the police. A case was registered against him under the UAPA in 2020. He was declared a proclaimed offender by the Special NIA Court in April 2025, after evading multiple summons.
His relations with Pakistan ISI?
Fai founded the organisation Kashmiri American Council (KAC) in the United States and carried out lobbying on behalf of Kashmiri separatist groups and the Pakistan government. He claimed that the KAC was an independent grassroots organisation dedicated to exposing the alleged “atrocities” against the people of Kashmir. However, he was arrested by the FBI in 2011 after an investigation revealed that the KAC was a “front” for the Pakistani intelligence agency ISI. US authorities proved that for more than 20 years, Fai had received at least $3.5 million from the ISI to influence US policy on Kashmir.
In 2012, Fai was sentenced to two years in prison by a federal court in Virginia for conspiracy and tax violations. During his trial in the US, federal prosecutors stated that Fai had lied about holding a doctoral degree, a title he had used for decades to enhance his credibility in political circles. In 2011, US Attorney McBride told the court that Fai did not possess a doctoral degree and had gained the respect of genuine scholars through fraudulent and false claims.
