New Delhi, 22 April (H.S.): Patiala House Court Additional Sessions Judge Prashant Sharma reserved judgment on terror funding accused MP Engineer Rashid's interim bail plea, seeking release to visit his ventilator-bound father, scheduling pronouncement for April 24.

NIA counsel suggested custody parole as alternative during hearing. Rashid, Baramulla MP who trounced Omar Abdullah by nearly 100,000 votes in 2024 Lok Sabha polls, secured custody parole for prior parliamentary sessions (Jan 28–Apr 2; Nov 2025) and voted in Sep 2025 VP elections despite 2016 NIA arrest.

Arrested in 2016, Rashid faces charges alongside Hafiz Saeed, Syed Salahuddin, Yasin Malik, Shabir Shah, Masarat Alam, Zahoor Ahmad Watali, Bitta Karate, Aftab Ahmad Shah, Avatar Ahmad Shah, Naeem Khan, Bashir Ahmad Butt (Pir Saifullah). Court framed charges Mar 16, 2022 under IPC §§120B,121,121A; UAPA §§13,16,17,18,20,38,39,40.

NIA alleges ISI-backed LeT, Hizbul, JKLF, JeM orchestrated J&K civilian/security attacks via APHC (formed 1993). Hafiz Saeed channeled funds through hawala for unrest, school burnings, assaults—prompting Home Ministry probe.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar