 "Engineer Rashid defeated National Conference leader Omar Abdullah by a margin of 1 lakh votes in J&K Baramulla. AFP")
Jailed Kashmiri leader Sheikh Abdul Rashid, also known as Engineer Rashid, is expected to take oath as the MP on July 55 in the parliament after getting a nod from the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Monday.
The green signal from NIA came a day ahead of an order on this matter from Delhi’s Patiala House Court. Additional sessions judge Chander Jit Singh will pass an order on the plea and set conditions of his oath-taking on July 2.
Why Engineer Rashid has still not taken oath as MP?
Engineer Rashid won the 2024 Lok Sabha elections as an Independent candidate from the Baramulla seat, defeating former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir and National Congress leader Omar Abdullah by a margin of over 2 lakh votes.
On June 24, when the other MPs of the 18th Lok Sabha took oath, Engineer Rashid’s name was also called but he could not follow the procedure since he has been lodged in jail since 2019 after being charged by the NIA under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act for his alleged involvement in a terror funding case.
Rashid had moved the court seeking interim bail, or custody parole in the alternative, to take oath as well as perform his parliamentary functions. On June 22, a Delhi court had adjourned the matter and asked the NIA to file its response.
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More ShortsOn Saturday, Additional Sessions Judge Kiran Gupta mandated NIA to respond to Rashid’s interim bail application to facilitate his oath taking. The court directed the agency to file its reply by July 1.
NIA sets restrictions for Rashid
The NIA counsel said it does not oppose Rashid’s plea to take oath but said he should be subject to certain restrictions including not speaking to the media.
The counsel also said that Rashid will have to finish taking oath and all other activities within a single day.
Why is Engineer Rashid jailed?
Rashid, founder of Jammu and Kashmir Awami Ittehad Party, has been arrested in a 2017 Jammu and Kashmir terror funding case.
Since he is in jail, Rashid contested the election as an independent candidate. His two sons led his campaign.
Rashid, a two-time MLA from the Langate constituency of the erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir, contested the 2019 Lok Sabha elections but was defeated.
He started his political career after resigning from his job as a construction engineer.