Rashid Engineer: The NIA has given its consent to allow Kashmiri leader and independent MP Rashid Engineer to take oath in Parliament on July 5. The NIA lawyer told the Delhi court that jailed Kashmiri leader Rashid should be allowed to take oath as MP with restrictions like not talking to the media. The NIA said that the consent is subject to certain conditions, including not talking to the media. The Patiala House Court will pass the order tomorrow on July 2. Rashid Engineer has sought interim bail or custody parole to take oath as MP.
Omar Abdullah defeated
Rashid Engineer is a famous name in the politics of North Kashmir and in this Lok Sabha election, he defeated former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. He has also been an MLA twice. For the last five years, he is serving a sentence in Tihar Jail under UAPA. Rashid was associated with the Awami Ittehad Party, but in the Lok Sabha elections 2024, he contested as an independent from jail. He was also an independent candidate in the 2019 general elections, but then lost to Muhammad Akbar Lone of the National Conference.
NIA arrested in terror funding
In 2019, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested Rashid Engineer on charges of terror funding. He was accused of terrorist activities. Rashid contested the elections from Tihar Jail and during this time his two sons Abrar Rashid and Asrar Rashid continuously campaigned and reached out to the people. Rashid benefited from this and he surprised everyone by defeating Omar.