AIP Seeks Court Nod for MP Er Rashid’s Attendance in Parliament

SRINAGAR: The Awami Ittehaad Party (AIP) on Sunday submitted a formal application before the Patiala House Court in New Delhi, seeking permission for its incarcerated president and newly elected Member of Parliament, Engineer Abdul Rashid, to attend the upcoming session of the Lok Sabha scheduled to begin on July 21, 2025.

The plea was filed by Advocate Vikhyat Oberoi, legal counsel for the jailed Baramulla MP. According to a party statement released to the press, the matter has been listed for hearing on July 15.

AIP Chief Spokesperson Inam Un Nabi said, “Engineer Rashid is a duly elected representative of the people of Baramulla. Denying him the right to participate in the parliamentary proceedings not only disenfranchises the electorate but also undermines the very spirit of democracy.” He added that attending the Parliament was not a privilege but a “constitutional duty” of the MP.

Engineer Rashid is currently lodged in Delhi’s Tihar Jail under charges linked to a UAPA case filed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA). Despite being in custody since 2019, he contested the 2024 general elections from the Baramulla constituency and won with a significant margin, defeating prominent candidates including Omar Abdullah of the National Conference.