A Delhi court on Tuesday granted two hours of custody parole to Kashmir MP Rashid Engineer, allowing him to take his oath as a Member of Parliament on July 5th. Engineer Rashid, who had sought interim bail or custody parole for the purpose, was granted the temporary release after the National Investigation Agency (NIA) gave its consent under certain conditions. The NIA stipulated that Rashid should not interact with the media during his time outside prison.
Engineer Rashid, popularly known as Abdul Rashid, secured a stunning victory in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, defeating former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah as an independent candidate. His victory was particularly noteworthy because he campaigned from Tihar jail, where he has been imprisoned for the last five years on charges related to a terror-funding case.
The NIA’s consent came after a Delhi court adjourned Rashid’s interim bail plea hearing until July 1st, giving the agency time to file its response. The NIA counsel reportedly stated that the MP should complete all activities, including the oath-taking ceremony, within a single day.
Rashid, a former two-time MLA from the Langate seat in north Kashmir, had been in jail since 2019. He is known for his controversial views and had previously been a close associate of slain Hurriyat leader and JKPC founder Abdul Gani Lone, the father of Sajad Lone who heads the People’s Conference. Despite being incarcerated, Rashid’s campaign, led by his two sons, commenced just two weeks before the Baramulla constituency voted in the fifth polling phase on May 20, 2024. His victory from within prison was a major upset in the Lok Sabha elections.
