Srinagar, Aug 8: The Awami Itihaad Party (AIP) on Saturday marked seven years of incarceration of its president and Baramulla Member of Parliament Er. Rashid by urging the judiciary to consider his bail plea with urgency, saying his prolonged detention without conclusion of trial raises serious questions concerning justice, constitutional safeguards and the rights of his electorate.
Addressing a press conference, AIP Chief Spokesperson Inam Un Nabi, State Secretary Sheikh Ashiq and General Secretary Nazir Ahmad Khan said the continued incarceration of an elected Member of Parliament for seven years without the trial reaching its logical conclusion was not merely a legal issue but a matter concerning constitutional values and personal liberty.
Inam said Er. Rashid represents nearly 40 percent of Kashmir’s population and argued that his prolonged absence had deprived his constituents of seven years of parliamentary representation and public service.
Appealing to Chief Justice of India Justice Surya Kant, Inam urged that Er. Rashid’s bail plea be considered with compassion, urgency and constitutional fairness.
He referred to the principle that bail is the rule and jail is the exception, while stressing that the party was not seeking any special treatment for its president.
“We are not questioning the judicial process. We have complete faith in the judiciary. Our only request is that justice must not be delayed, particularly when personal liberty is at stake,” he said.
Inam invoked Article 21 of the Constitution, saying the right to life and personal liberty is a fundamental guarantee and that prolonged incarceration coupled with delay in trial deserves the highest judicial consideration.
He said the consequences of seven years of incarceration extended beyond Er. Rashid and his family, affecting lakhs of voters who elected him and had been deprived of his representation.
The AIP spokesperson also highlighted what the party described as a significant development in the case before the Court of the Additional Sessions Judge, Patiala House Courts, New Delhi.
Referring to proceedings dated July 6, 2026, Inam said Mohammad Yasin Malik, appearing through video conferencing, had personally told the court that the investigating agency had wrongly implicated Er. Rashid by attributing to him the identity of “Sheikh Abdul Rashid” mentioned in an alleged email.
According to Inam, Yasin Malik told the court that another person named Sheikh Abdul Rashid was associated with the JKLF and that the investigating agency had wrongly identified Er. Rashid in his place. He further said Yasin Malik submitted an affidavit on the issue, which was taken on record by the court and would be considered while passing orders on charge.
Inam said the development was significant because the identification of “Sheikh Abdul Rashid” as Er. Rashid had been among the allegations relied upon against the Baramulla MP.
“For years, Er. Rashid has maintained that the Sheikh Abdul Rashid referred to in the alleged communication was not him but another individual bearing the same name. Today, that very contention has been placed before the Court by Yasin Malik himself and has been supported through an affidavit taken on record,” he said.
At the same time, Inam clarified that the AIP was not seeking to prejudge the matter and that the final determination rests with the court. He said that if the contention regarding the identity was ultimately accepted, it could substantially weaken one of the allegations levelled against Er. Rashid.
The AIP said the latest development further underlined the need for judicial consideration of the prolonged incarceration, personal liberty and evidentiary basis of the allegations against the MP.
Concluding his appeal, Inam urged the judiciary to ensure timely justice and meaningful protection of personal liberty, saying constitutional principles must prevail over prolonged detention.
He also expressed solidarity with Er. Rashid’s family, saying they had endured seven years of separation, uncertainty and emotional hardship.
The AIP reiterated its faith in the Supreme Court of India, the Constitution and the judicial process, while seeking an urgent and fair consideration of Er. Rashid’s bail plea. [KNT]
Comments are closed.