Srinagar, Aug 09: The Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) staged a significant protest in Srinagar on saturday, demanding the immediate release of MP Engineer Rashid, who is now entering his seventh year of incarceration. The protest, marked by loud slogans of “Reha Karo, Reha Karo, Er Rashid Reha Karo,” also called for the release of all political and innocent prisoners detained outside the state.
MLA Langate, Khurshid Ahmad, who participated in the protest, strongly condemned the prolonged detention of Engineer Rashid and highlighted the broader issue of political prisoners from Kashmir. Speaking to the gathered crowd, Khurshid Ahmad said, “This protest is not just for Engineer Rashid Sahib, but for all Kashmiri political prisoners and innocent people locked up in jails outside the state.”
He urged regional political parties and elected representatives in Delhi to raise their voices for the release of political prisoners, criticizing them for their silence on the issue when away from Kashmir. “You sit here in Srinagar and talk, but when you go to India Block and Delhi, you do not speak about political prisoners or an elected representative. Your election manifesto promised representation, but the reality is different,” he said.
Khurshid Ahmad also addressed the issue of the expenses related to custody parole for Engineer Rashid. “We have borne the expenses of custody parole twice and sent him to Parliament, but this has not set a precedent. We have appealed to the Honourable High Court and hope for a verdict soon,” he added.
He called on both the High Court and the Supreme Court to take serious cognizance of the situation and allow Engineer Rashid to attend parliamentary sessions without undue financial or procedural barriers.
Highlighting the democratic mandate given to Engineer Rashid by the people of Kashmir, Khurshid Ahmad emphasized, “He was sent to Parliament to represent the people, not for personal reasons. This restriction is unjust and a burden on democracy.”(KNS).
