Srinagar, 09 August (H.S.): The Awami Itihaad Party (AIP) today appealed to Chief Justice of India, Justice Surya Kant for justice and expeditious bail to its president and Baramulla MP, Engineer Rashid, as he completed seven years in jail.

Addressing a press conference here, AIP chief spokesperson Inam Un Nabi said the prolonged incarceration of an elected Member of Parliament without the trial reaching its logical conclusion raised serious questions concerning personal liberty, constitutional values and justice.

The party also highlighted a July 6 development before the Additional Sessions Judge at Patiala House Courts, New Delhi, saying a key identification relied upon against Engineer Rashid had come under scrutiny.

Inam said Mohammad Yasin Malik, appearing through video conferencing, told the court that the investigating agency had wrongly implicated Engineer Rashid by attributing to him the identity of Sheikh Abdul Rashid mentioned in an alleged email.

According to Inam, Malik told the court that another person named Sheikh Abdul Rashid was associated with the JKLF and that Engineer Rashid had been wrongly identified in his place.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Krishan Kumar