Jailed Kashmiri leader and newly elected Member Parliament, Sheikh Abdul Rashid, commonly known as Engineer Rashid, is set to take his parliamentary oath on July 5.
This development follows the National Investigation Agency (NIA) giving its consent before a special court on Monday. The matter will see a formal order from Additional Sessions Judge Chander Jit Singh on Tuesday.
The NIA’s counsel stipulated that Rashid’s oath-taking should be subject to specific conditions, including a prohibition on speaking to the media. Additionally, the process must be completed within a single day. Rashid, currently incarcerated in Tihar Jail, is an Independent MP from Baramulla. He was arrested in connection with a 2017 Jammu and Kashmir terror funding case and had sought interim bail or custody parole to fulfill his parliamentary duties. On June 22, a special court adjourned the matter, instructing the NIA to respond. Since then, the agency has been in discussions with Parliament and jail authorities regarding the procedure.
Rashid’s counsel referenced the case of AAP leader Sanjay Singh, who was granted custody parole to take his oath as a Rajya Sabha MP. However, the court emphasized that the charges against Rashid are different. Rashid has been detained since August 2019 under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act for his alleged involvement in the terror funding case. His involvement emerged during the investigation of Kashmiri businessman Zahoor Watali, who was arrested for allegedly financing terrorist groups and separatists in the Kashmir Valley. The NIA has previously filed charges against several individuals related to the case, including prominent Kashmiri separatist leader Yasin Malik, Lashkar-e-Taiba founder Hafiz Saeed, and Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin.
As the situation unfolds, the parliamentary oath of Engineer Rashid marks a significant moment in the intersection of legal proceedings and parliamentary duties.
