Srinagar, Sep 10: Delhi’s Patiala House Court has granted temporary bail to Er Rashid, a Member of Parliament from Baramulla, until October 2. Rashid, who has been in Tihar Jail since 2019, was arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) in connection with a 2017 terror funding case.
Rashid’s involvement came to light during the investigation of businessman Zahoor Watali, accused of funneling funds to terrorist groups and separatist factions in Kashmir. The case also includes high-profile figures such as separatist leader Yasin Malik, Lashkar-e-Taiba founder Hafiz Saeed, and Hizbul Mujahideen leader Syed Salahuddin. Yasin Malik was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2022 after pleading guilty.
Seeking interim bail to participate in the upcoming Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections scheduled for September 18, 25, and October 1, Rashid aims to re-engage in his political activities.
Earlier this year, Rashid defeated former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in the Baramulla parliamentary election. Leading the Awami Ittehad Party (AIP), Rashid had previously won the Langate assembly seat in 2008 and 2014 but lost in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections as an independent candidate.
For the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Rashid’s campaign focused on past separatist movements and sought support from voters disillusioned with traditional political parties in Kashmir. The AIP has nominated nine candidates for the third phase of the upcoming elections on October 1, including Khurshid Ahmad Sheikh, Rashid’s brother, who will contest the Langate seat. Sheikh, a former government school teacher, resigned from his position in June following Rashid’s victory over Omar Abdullah.
