Srinagar, Aug 09 (KNO): The Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) on Saturday staged a protest in Srinagar, urging the government to release its president and Member of Parliament from north Kashmir, Engineer Abdul Rashid sheikh, who has been lodged in Tihar Jail for the past seven years in connection with a terror funding case.
Carrying placards and banners, the protestors also demanded the release of other political detainees. Several party leaders joined the demonstration, alleging that prolonged detentions were “unjustified.”
Speaking to reporters, MLA Langate, Sheikh Khurshid, as per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), said, today Engineer Rashid completes seven years in jail. All political parties must raise their voice for the release of political prisoners held in different jails across India, he said.
“You speak about certain issues while sitting in Srinagar, but when you go to the India Bloc, you remain silent on the matter of political prisoners. You are elected representatives and I want to tell all regional parties that you don’t have the courage to protest or take concrete action,” he said.
“At the very least, talk about Kashmiri prisoners and speak for the release of those who have been incarcerated for years,” he added.
Meanwhile, the party accused regional political outfits of maintaining “double standards” on the issue of political prisoners—(KNO)