AIP Stages Protest in Srinagar; Release of MP Er Rashid, Other Political Prisoners Sought – Alfaaz – The Words

Srinagar: The Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) on Saturday held a protest in Srinagar, demanding the immediate release of its president and north Kashmir MP, Abdul Rashid Sheikh, aka Er Rashid, who has spent the last seven years in Delhi’s Tihar Jail in connection with an alleged terror funding case.

Party workers and leaders, carrying placards and banners, also pressed for the release of other political detainees, terming their prolonged incarceration as “unjust and politically motivated.”

MLA Langate and AIP’s PAC Chairman Sheikh Khurshid talking to mediapersons noted that the day marked seven years of Engineer Rashid’s imprisonment. “All political parties should speak up for the release of political prisoners lodged in jails across India,” he said.

Criticising regional political outfits, Khurshid alleged that they adopt “double standards” on the matter. “You raise certain issues while in Srinagar, but when sitting with the India Bloc, you remain silent about political prisoners. As elected representatives, you must have the courage to protest and take meaningful action,” he remarked.

The AIP leadership reiterated its call for consistent advocacy on behalf of Kashmiri prisoners, urging political parties to break their silence and work for their release.