Political leaders in Kashmir have made a humanitarian appeal to the Centre, urging the release of incarcerated Member of Parliament Engineer Rashid to allow him to meet his critically ill father.
Apni Party President Altaf Bukhari on Friday appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah to consider the release of Engineer Rashid. The appeal was made by Apni Party President after visiting Engineer Rashid’s ailing father Khazir Mohammad Sheikh at SMHS Hospital in Srinagar.
“I visited Khazir Mohammad Sheikh Sahib, the ailing father of Engineer Rashid Sahib, at SMHS Hospital in Srinagar, where he is battling his critical illness and has been placed on ventilator support. His condition is extremely serious, and his family is passing through an incredibly difficult and distressing time. In this difficult time, we stand in solidarity with them and pray to the Almighty Allah to bless Khazir Sahib with Shifa-e-Kamila and strength to overcome this grave condition,” Bukhari said on X.
Appealing to the Prime Minister and Home Minister for granting parole to Engineer Rashid, Bukhari wrote, “I request Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Hon’ble Home Minister Amit Shah to consider granting parole to the incarcerated Member of Parliament, Engineer Rashid, so that he can be with his ailing father and distressed family members. Allowing him to be with his family in this time of crisis would be a humane and dignified decision, and it will be appreciated by one and all in Jammu and Kashmir.”
On Thursday, Kashmir’s chief cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Bilal Gani Lone visited SMHS Hospital to enquire about the health of the ailing father of jailed MP Engineer Rashid.
After the visit, Mirwaiz urged the central government to release Baramulla MP Engineer Rashid on humanitarian grounds to meet his ailing father.
“..Visited the critically ill father of incarcerated MP Engineer Rasheed, admitted at SMHS, yearning to see his son lodged in Tihar jail for a meeting which could be their last. This silent suffering of political prisoners lodged in jails across India and in Jammu and Kashmir and their families is heartbreaking. I urge the Government of India to release Engineer Rashid to meet his ailing father, at least on humanitarian grounds,” Mirwaiz said.
MP Engineer Rashid has been lodged in Tihar Jail since his arrest by the NIA in a terror-funding case under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, four days before the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5, 2019. He attended the Budget Session of Parliament in January this year after a Delhi court granted him custody parole.
Rashid’s party- Awami Itehad party- spokesman Inam Un Nabi, said Khazir Mohammad Sheikh is battling a critical phase of illness, and the entire family is going through an extremely painful and distressing time.
He said the absence of his son, who remains in custody, has only added to the family’s anguish during these testing moments.
The AIP spokesperson also urged the Centre to take a compassionate and humanitarian view of the situation and release MP Er Rashid.
