NIA consents for Rashid's oath taking, parties seek his release

Srinagar: Hours after the National Investigation Agency (NIA) gave its consent to jailed Member Parliament elect Abdul Rashid Sheikh, also known as Engineer Rashid, to take oath as a Lok Sabha member, several Kashmir mainstream politicians sought his release.
Former Chief Minister and National Conference Vice President Omar Abdullah said there would be a lack of effective representation of the people of Baramulla.
"He will take the oath now inside the Parliament Speaker's room. But unfortunately, the people of Baramulla constituency will not get an effective representation," Omar told reporters in Srinagar. " He can take oath, but will not be able to work as the representative of the people of Baramulla."
In the recent general elections, jailed Engineer Rashid trounced Omar Abdullah and People's Conference President Sajad Lone in Jammu and Kashmir's Baramulla Lok Sabha seat.
Engineer Rashid, who heads the Awami Ittehad Party, is currently lodged in Delhi's Tihar Jail in a terror-funding case and could not take oath as an MP when his name was called out on June 25.
Peoples Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti said the Government of India must release Engineer Rashid.
"It's a shame that Engineer Rashid has been behind bars since 2019 on baseless charges. Relieved to know he's been allowed to take oath as Member Parliament but his imprisonment itself is an utter travesty of justice in the first place. GOI must release him immediately along with countless other Kashmiri men languishing in jails," Mehbooba posted on X.
Jammu & Kashmir Apni Party Altaf Bukhari welcomed the development of allowing Engineer Rashid to take the oath.
"Welcome the development related to NIA's allowance for oath taking of MP-elected from Baramulla Lok Sabha seat Er. Rashid Sahab. This was long due which finally has seen its realisation, much to the joy and satisfaction of the electorate, spanning in lacs, in North Kashmir. However restricting the MP-elected from interacting with the media is worrisome and not a healthy sign for democracy," Bukhari said in a post on X.
Chief spokesperson of Democratic Progressive Azad Party Salman Nizami said that Engineer Rashid must be released now.
"Finally, Eng Rashid will take oath in Parliament. NIA has given its consent to permit him to take oath on July 5 in Parliament. He has won with a huge number of votes. We welcome this step. Democracy is still alive. Now he must be released!,"