Baramulla MP Sheikh Abdul Rashid gets 2-day custody parole to attend Parliament

Srinagar: Delhi High Court on Monday granted custody parole of two days to Sheikh Abdul Rashid, popularly known as Engineer Rashid, the jailed Lok Sabha member from Baramulla in northern Kashmir. He ended his hunger strike following the court order.

Rashid, lodged in Delhi's Tihar Jail in connection with a terror funding case, had gone on a hunger strike from January 31, demanding his right to participate in the ongoing budget session of Parliament. He has been allowed to attend the session on February 11 and February 13. He will be transported from jail to attend the session and then he will be taken back.

Over the past few days politicians across the spectrum in Kashmir, including J&K CM Omar Abdullah and Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, had expressed concerns over Rashid's deteriorating health and demanded his release. "Court has directed him to not interact with the media or any other person other than the staff of Parliament and he cannot use mobile phone or internet services during the custody parole," said Inam un Nabi, chief spokesperson of Awami Ittehad Party.


The party, founded by Rashid, welcomed the court decision and it hoped he would be allowed to attend the whole session and granted regular bail as well.