NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court allowed two-day custody parole to jailed MP Abdul Rashid Sheikh alias Rashid Engineer to attend the ongoing Parliament session.
Justice Vikas Mahajan said Rashid could attend the Parliament session on February 11 and 13.
Custody parole entails a prisoner being escorted by armed police personnel to the place of visit.
Rashid was saddled with certain riders as bail conditions, including not using a cell phone.
The Baramulla MP is facing trial in a terror funding case with the allegations that he funded separatists and terror groups in Jammu and Kashmir.
Rashid moved the high court alleging he was left without a remedy after the NIA court dealing with his bail application left him in limbo post his election to the Lok Sabha last year on account of it not being a special MP/MLA court.
As an interim relief, he prayed and sought custody parole.
The NIA counsel opposed the grant of custody parole, saying Rashid had no vested right to attend Parliament and he had not shown any “specific purpose” while seeking the relief.
The agency also raised security concerns.
Rashid was arrested in 2019 following allegations of involvement in a money laundering case and for waging war against the country under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
His case is linked to funding separatist activities in Jammu and Kashmir and connections to designated terrorist Hafeez Saeed.
KLNN Adds: In Srinagar, Awami Ittihaad Party (AIP) Chief Spokesperson Inam Un Nabi announced on Monday that Er Rashid has ended his hunger strike on its 11th day following the Delhi High Court’s decision to grant him two-day custody parole on February 11 and February 13.
Welcoming the court’s decision, Inam Un Nabi expressed gratitude to the people of the Baramulla Parliamentary Constituency in particular and Jammu and Kashmir in general for their overwhelming support. He also thanked political and religious leaders, civil society members, trade unions, and social and human rights activists for standing in solidarity with the incarcerated leader.
He further extended his appreciation to the dedicated team of lawyers, including H Hariharan (Senior Advocate), Vikhyat Oberoi, Aditya Wadhwa, Nishita Gupta, Shivam Prakash, Ravi Sharma, Jagriti Pandey, Punya Rekha Angara, Vasundhara, Sana Singh, Aman Akhtar, Vinayak Gautam, and Hasain Khwaja, for their tireless efforts in securing justice for Er Rashid.
Inam Un Nabi underscored that despite the hardships, Er Rashid remains steadfast in his commitment to representing the sentiments and aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. “His dedication to the cause remains unshaken. AIP will continue its fight for justice and democracy,” he added.
He also expressed hope that justice would prevail with the granting of regular bail to the incarcerated Member of Parliament, reaffirming his faith in the judiciary and the Constitution.
The AIP Spokesperson urged all well-wishers to continue supporting Er Rashid in his efforts to safeguard the democratic rights and dignity of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
