Court reserves order on jailed MP Engineer Rashid's plea to attend Parliament

NEW DELHI/SRINAGAR: An NIA court in Delhi on Tuesday reserved its verdict on jailed Baramulla MP Engineer Rashid 's plea for interim bail or custody parole to attend Parliament's monsoon session starting on July 21.

A spokesman of Rashid's Awami Itihaad Party said that his counsels informed the court about an earlier interim bail granted to the MP on Sept 10 last year for campaigning for J&K assembly polls . Then the court had extended the interim bail period thrice, thereby affirming that he didn't pose any security threat, they argued.

His counsels also mentioned Delhi HC had permitted Rashid to attend Parliament proceedings in custody on February 10 and March 25.

However, NIA opposed the plea and contended that if he is permitted to attend Parliament in custody, he must bear the cost of travel. Rashid's counsel objected to this, arguing that as an elected MP, he is seeking permission purely in the interest of public service and the democratic mandate he represents, not for any personal convenience, and should not be made to bear such expenses.

(Inputs from Naseer Ganai)