The Awami Ittehad Party has decided to approach the court for 45-day parole of its leader and Lok Sabha MP, Sheikh Abdul Rashid, also known as Engineer Rashid, to campaign in the forthcoming three-phase Assembly elections.
"We have asked for 45-day parole. We don't know when the case would be listed for hearing. But we are hopeful that the court will accept our plea," informed senior party leader Prince Parvaiz.
The party has also pleaded for regular bail for Rashid.
Rashid has been in jail since 2019 after Article 370 was withdrawn in Jammu and Kashmir. He had been arrested by the NIA in connection with a money laundering case linked to terror funding.
The former MLA had contested the recent Lok Sabha polls as an Independent candidate. He defeated former Chief Minister and National Conference Vice President Omar Abdullah by a margin of more than two lakh votes.
His victory had stunned Omar Abdullah, who was expecting an easy win against People’s Conference chief Sajad Gani Lone.
The AIP is hopeful that Rashid's release and active campaigning will dramatically change the political scene in Kashmir.
"His coming out will change the dynamics of Kashmir politics. It will change the entire situation in Kashmir at a political level," Parvaiz added. The party has also worked out contingency plans in case Rashid is not released.
The AIP plans to contest all seats in Kashmir, besides the Pir Panjal and Chenab regions of Jammu.
As per political experts in the Valley, the parole to Rashid will give a prominent face to the party, thereby enhancing its prospects, particularly in north Kashmir.
At the same time, experts also point out the challenge AIP faces in finding reliable candidates for different constituencies where the party has decided to contest elections.
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