Omar Abdullah Calls for Engineer Rashid's Immediate Release

Engineer Rashid had won the north Kashmir, Baramulla Lok Sabha seat by defeating Omar Abdullah by a margin of more than 2,00,000 votes.

Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and National Conference Vice President, Omar Abdullah on Monday also demanded that the detained Lok Sabha member elect, Engineer Rashid be released.

Engineer Rashid had won the north Kashmir, Baramulla Lok Sabha seat by defeating Omar Abdullah by a margin of more than 2,00,000 votes.

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_engineer Rashid has been languishing in Delhi's Tihar Jail since 2019, after his arrest by the National Investigation Agency in connection with a terror funding case_.

Omar Abdullah congratulated all the newly sworn-in members of Parliament, including those representing Jammu and Kashmir, and said on X, "This is a momentous occasion for our democracy."

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He reiterated his demand for permitting Engineer Rashid, the elected representative of the people of North Kashmir, to take oath and represent the people of his constituency.

The former Chief Minister also drew attention towards the injustice being done to prisoners, who are not in a position or are unwilling to participate in elections.

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NC Members of Parliament, Abdullah added, would continue to vigorously pursue justice for all the detainees, including that of Engineer Rashid.

"Besides we will also raise the question of immediate transfer of prisoners detained outside J&K prisons back to Kashmir pending their release. Main demand will be one of general amnesty for all those detained since August 5, 2019," Abdullah said.
The NC participants are two members in the Lower House: Mian Altaf Ahmad from Anantnag-Rajouri and Syed Ruhullah Mehdi from Srinagar in the 18th Lok Sabha.

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The interim bail application by engineer Rashid comes up for hearing before a Patiala House court on July 1.

Read also | Opening Day of 18th Lok Sabha Marked by Stormy Debate Between Modi and Kharge on Emergency

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Read also | Mamata Banerjee Urges PM Modi to Involve Bengal Government in Bangladesh Water Treaties

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