Mehbooba Mufti visits Engineer Rashid, highlights detainees' plight

PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti visited jailed MP Engineer Rashid's family, calling the plight of detainees a 'humanitarian issue.' She said many parents in J&K have died without getting a chance to see their jailed sons since 2019.

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday visited the residence of jailed Baramulla MP Engineer Rashid to offer condolences on the demise of his father.

Mehbooba highlights 'humanitarian issue'

Speaking to reporters during her visit, Mehbooba Mufti said many parents in Jammu and Kashmir died without getting a chance to see their jailed sons, calling the situation a humanitarian issue. "Engineer Rashid is a sitting Member of Parliament. The court perhaps allowed him some relief to meet his father and attend the funeral. But there are many others jailed since 2019 whose parents passed away without seeing their sons even once," Mehbooba said.

She said thousands of families in Jammu and Kashmir continue to suffer due to the detention of youths and political detainees lodged in jails both within and outside the Union Territory.

Mehbooba said "several families were denied the opportunity to meet their loved ones even during critical moments," adding that the prolonged separation has caused deep emotional suffering across Kashmir. "The situation reflects the hardships faced by families across Jammu and Kashmir, where many people continue to remain behind bars without trial," she said.

Engineer Rashid granted interim bail

Her remarks came days after the Delhi High Court granted interim bail to Engineer Rashid till June 2 following the demise of his father. Earlier, a Division Bench of the Delhi High Court comprising Justices Prathiba M Singh and Madhu Jain granted interim bail to Rashid after hearing an urgent plea seeking permission for him to attend the funeral and perform last rites.

Rashid's father had passed away at AIIMS Delhi in the intervening night of May 17 and 18. The High Court imposed several conditions while granting relief, including that Rashid would remain accompanied by at least two police officials in plain clothes during the interim bail period. Engineer Rashid is currently lodged in judicial custody in connection with a terror funding case being investigated by the National Investigation Agency (NIA). He had earlier also been granted custody parole to attend Lok Sabha sessions. (ANI)

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