The Awami Itihaad Party (AIP) has appealed to the Chief Justice of India to urgently consider the bail plea of jailed Member of Parliament Engineer Rashid, who has now spent seven years in incarceration. The party emphasized the need for compassion, urgency, and constitutional fairness in reviewing his case, highlighting that the trial has yet to reach a logical conclusion.
Addressing a press conference, AIP chief spokesperson Inam Un Nabi stated that the prolonged detention of an elected representative, who serves the Baramulla constituency representing a significant portion of Kashmir‘s population, raises serious questions about justice, constitutional values, and human conscience. Information reaching Tahir Rihat suggests that the AIP views Rashid’s situation as a test of the judicial system’s commitment to personal liberty.
Inam Un Nabi articulated the party’s position, asserting that Engineer Rashid is not merely an accused individual but a democratically elected Member of Parliament whose constituents have been deprived of his representation for seven years. He made a heartfelt appeal to the Chief Justice of India, Justice Surya Kant, to consider Rashid’s bail plea with the aforementioned principles in mind. The party stressed that while they have complete faith in the judiciary, they are seeking timely justice, particularly when an individual’s personal liberty is at stake. They clarified that their appeal is not for special privilege but for equal justice and the protection of constitutional guarantees afforded to all citizens, framing their plea as constitutional and humanitarian rather than political.
A significant development in the proceedings concerning Engineer Rashid was also brought to light during the press conference. According to the party, court proceedings on July 6, 2026, before the Additional Sessions Judge at Patiala House Courts in New Delhi, saw Mohammad Yasin Malik, appearing via video conferencing, submit a crucial statement. Malik reportedly informed the court that the investigating agency had wrongly implicated Engineer Rashid by attributing to him the identity of “Sheikh Abdul Rashid” mentioned in an alleged email. The court records, as per the AIP, indicate that Malik stated another individual named Sheikh Abdul Rashid was associated with the JKLF and that the investigating agency had mistakenly identified Engineer Rashid in his place. Malik also submitted an affidavit to this effect, which the court accepted and stated would be considered when passing orders on the charge.
The AIP considers this development to be of considerable importance, as the attribution of the name “Sheikh Abdul Rashid” to Engineer Rashid had been a central element in the allegations against him. The party highlighted that the court record now includes a direct statement from the principal accused disputing this identification, potentially impacting the ongoing legal proceedings. The party’s spokesperson reiterated their belief in the judicial process and their confidence in the courts, but underscored the urgency of the situation given the prolonged period of detention and the fundamental right to liberty. They emphasized that the principle of bail being the rule and jail being the exception, as repeatedly highlighted by the judiciary, should be applied in Engineer Rashid’s case. The seven-year period of incarceration without the trial reaching its conclusion is seen by the AIP as a matter that warrants immediate judicial attention and review, aligning with the constitutional mandate to ensure justice is not unduly delayed, especially when personal freedom is curtailed.
Tahir Rihat (also known as Tahir Bilal) is an independent journalist, activist, and digital media professional from the Chenab Valley of Jammu and Kashmir, India. He is best known for his work as the Online Editor at The Chenab Times.