Jailed J&K MP Engineer Rashid Gets Parole to Attend Parliament
In a significant development, the Delhi High Court has granted two-day custody parole to jailed Baramulla MP Engineer Rashid, allowing him to attend the ongoing budget session of Parliament. The court imposed certain conditions on Rashid, including a ban on using phones, the internet, and speaking to media or anyone else.
Rashid, a Member of Parliament from Jammu and Kashmir, has been facing trial in a terror funding case and has been in Tihar Jail since 2017. Despite being a member of Parliament, he has been denied permission to attend the budget session on multiple occasions, citing security concerns.
However, Rashid’s lawyers had moved the Delhi High Court, seeking custody parole for a period of 14 days to enable him to attend the budget session. The court, while granting the parole, imposed several conditions to ensure that Rashid does not misuse his liberty.
According to the order, Rashid will be escorted by police during his parole and will have to report to the police station every evening. He has also been prohibited from using phones, the internet, and speaking to media or anyone else.
The court’s decision is seen as a significant victory for Rashid, who has been fighting to attend the budget session despite being denied permission by the authorities. Rashid’s lawyers had argued that as a member of Parliament, he had the right to attend the budget session and that his presence was essential to represent the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
Rashid’s detention has been a subject of controversy, with many questioning the charges against him. His lawyers have claimed that the charges against him are baseless and that he is being targeted for his political views. Rashid has been a vocal critic of the government’s policies in Jammu and Kashmir and has been involved in several protests against the central government’s decisions.
The Delhi High Court’s order granting Rashid custody parole is seen as a significant departure from the government’s stance on his detention. The court’s decision is a testament to the importance of upholding the rights of members of Parliament, even if they are facing trial.
Rashid’s lawyers have hailed the court’s decision as a major victory, saying that it is a step towards upholding the dignity of members of Parliament. “This is a historic judgment that recognizes the rights of members of Parliament,” said Rashid’s lawyer. “We are happy that the court has taken a balanced view and has allowed Engineer Rashid to attend the budget session.”
The government, on the other hand, has maintained that Rashid’s detention is necessary to maintain law and order in the country. A government spokesperson said that the decision to deny Rashid permission to attend the budget session was taken in the interests of national security.
The controversy surrounding Rashid’s detention is unlikely to die down anytime soon. His supporters are likely to continue to demand his release, citing the lack of evidence against him. The government, on the other hand, is likely to continue to maintain that his detention is necessary to prevent him from destabilizing the country.
In conclusion, the Delhi High Court’s decision to grant Engineer Rashid custody parole to attend the budget session is a significant development in the ongoing controversy surrounding his detention. The court’s decision is a testament to the importance of upholding the rights of members of Parliament, even if they are facing trial. The controversy surrounding Rashid’s detention is unlikely to die down anytime soon, but the court’s decision is a step towards upholding the dignity of members of Parliament.
