Sits besides NC MP Ruhullah in the Parliament
Diplomat Correspondent
Srinagar: (DD) Engineer Abdul Rashid, the Member of Parliament from Baramulla, attended the Lok Sabha proceedings for the first time on Tuesday after being elected last year. His appearance in Parliament comes despite his continued detention since 2019 in connection with a terror funding case.
Rashid, a former MLA from Langate and founder of the Awami Ittehad Party (AIP), was arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in August 2019 under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). His arrest was linked to a wider investigation into alleged terror financing in Jammu and Kashmir. Despite his incarceration, he contested the 2024 Lok Sabha elections from Baramulla as an independent candidate and secured a decisive victory, defeating political heavyweights such as Omar Abdullah of the National Conference. Er Rashid was seen sitting besides NC MP Syed Ruhullah Mehdi in the Parliament.
On Tuesday, Rashid was brought from Tihar Jail under tight security after the Delhi High Court granted him a two-day custody parole to participate in the ongoing Budget Session. His younger brother, Sheikh Khursheed, who is also an MLA from Langate, confirmed the development.
“He was brought in custody from Tihar Jail this morning to attend the proceedings,” Khursheed said.
Despite his electoral mandate, Rashid’s future in active politics remains uncertain, as his bail plea continues to face jurisdictional hurdles. His brief presence in Parliament has reignited political debates in Jammu and Kashmir, where his supporters see him as a victim of political vendetta, while his critics point to the serious charges against him.(DD)
