The Kashmir Pulse

SRINAGAR — Sugra Barkati, daughter of jailed Sarjan Ahmad Wagay (Barkati), said on Sunday that she is being subjected to “psychological tactics” by her opponents, especially the National Conference (NC).

Addressing a press conference, Sugra, who emphasized that she is not a politician and only wants her parents released from jail, explained that she has been forced into the public eye “due to compulsion,” with the unusual circumstances placing a heavy burden on her shoulders.

“I have been subjected to psychological tactics, with Omar Abdullah leading the charge when he mentioned my father, saying that people in jail are filing papers against him. Filing the papers was my decision,” she said.

“During the Lok Sabha elections, Omar told Engineer Rashid’s son that if he had known they were running, he wouldn’t have filed his papers,” Sugra explained and added that Omar’s statement was the reason she decided to file papers on behalf of her father, hoping that, if he won, her father might be released from jail.

“One of the NC spokespersons, Ifra Jan, openly called my father a thief; it was like a stab to my chest,” she said. “We are helpless, and we leave it in the hands of people and the Almighty.”

Regarding AIP’s chief, Engineer Sheikh Rashid, Sugra said she had expected AIP to voluntarily give the mandate to her father in Langate. “We were in contact with them since my father’s papers were rejected in Zainapora. We wanted Engineer Rashid to support us because we hardly know anyone from Beerwah and Ganderbal. We thought Langate would make a difference.”

She added that she had been in touch with Engineer Rashid’s brother, Sheikh Khurseed, as well as Inam-un-Nabi, AIP’s spokesperson. “We were assured the matter would be considered, but we never received a response.”

She concluded by questioning, “If it was ‘jail ka badla vote se’ during the Lok Sabha elections, which Engineer Rashid won, then why not now?”

SRINAGAR — Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) leader Engineer Rashid, has announced that he will support the INDIA bloc candidates in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections if they promise to restore Article 370 of the Constitution once they come to power at the Centre.

Rashid, who was recently released on interim bail, stated that he would direct his candidates to pledge their supporters' votes to the INDIA bloc if they assure him of their commitment to reinstating Article 370.

He emphasized that resolving the Kashmir issue is crucial for India to achieve its dream of becoming a global power. He criticized the government's actions on August 5, 2019, and accused them of snatching away the rights of Kashmiris.

Rashid also targeted National Conference and PDP leaders, saying they lacked the courage to fight for the restoration of Article 370. He expressed disappointment over Mehbooba Mufti's statement against him and claimed that Farooq Abdullah was aware of the Centre's plans to revoke Article 370 in advance.

The AIP leader denied that his Lok Sabha election win was due to sympathy votes, instead attributing it to his work on human rights and development. He also alleged that he was pressured to support a BJP proxy candidate in the Lok Sabha polls and was denied basic facilities in jail for refusing to do so.

SRINAGAR — Awami Ittihaad Party (AIP) on Saturday announced a list of candidates for the remaining seats for the upcoming Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir.

According to the list, Khursheed Ahmad Sheikh, brother of jailed AIP supremo Er Rasheed, is to contest from the Langate seat.

Advocate Mursaleen from Sopore, Er Muneer Khan from Uri, Mohammad Muzaffar Dar from Rafiabad, Adil Nazir Khan from Gulmarg, Peerzada Firdous from Kupwara, Er Jahangir Khan from Khansahib, Abdul Majid Banday from Handwara and Ashok Kumar Raina from Chamb will contest the elections for AIP.

SRINAGAR — Jailed Er Rashid’s Awami Itihad Party (AIP) on Saturday released its manifesto ahead of Assembly elections in J&K in which it promised unconditional release of all prisoners languishing in jails.

Besides, the party said it will utilize its efforts to revoke laws like the Public Safety Act (PSA) and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

Addressing a press conference here in Srinagar, the party leaders asserted that there will be a complete ban on liquor sales, besides free medical tests in the hospitals across Jammu and Kashmir if AIP is elected to power.

It maintained that AIP will work on the restoration of schemes and autonomous status of the University of Kashmir. Further, it also promised free computers to students who have qualified 8th standard.

“The party is committed to safeguarding the interests of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. Let us have a chance to serve people. We will try our every bit to safeguard students and traders studying and working outside Jammu and Kashmir,” party leaders said.

It also added that the decades-old Darbar move, which was cancelled by the present dispensation a few years ago, will also be restored for the larger interest of Jammu and Kashmir.

Notably AIP chief, who is currently lodged in Tihar Jail on charges of a 'terror-funding' case, has won Lok Sabha elections from north Kashmir’s Baramulla segment in April this year. He defeated his rival and former chief minister Omar Abdullah with a huge margin of votes.

SRINAGAR — The brother of Engineer Abdul Rashid Sheikh, who is the incarcerated founder and patron of the Jammu and Kashmir Awami Ittehad Party (AIP), is set to fight the upcoming Assembly elections from Langate constituency on AIP's ticket.

As per the local news agency KNS, the Jammu & Kashmir Government has approved the request of Khursheed Ahmed Sheikh (Er Rashid's brother) for voluntary retirement from service.

According to an order from the School Education department, Khursheed Ahmed Sheikh, who worked at a school in Mawar, has been granted voluntary retirement effective from September 1, 2024.

Khursheed is expected to be the candidate for the AIP from the Langate segment. He will compete directly with Peoples Conference candidate Irfan Panditpuri in this segment.

SRINAGAR — In a significant political development, prominent trade leader and former president of the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industries (KCC&I), Sheikh Ashiq formally joined Engineer Rashid’s Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) on Saturday.

The announcement, as per the news agency KNO, was made at a function held at the Sangarmal complex here in Srinagar, where AIP's chief spokesperson, Inam-un-Nabi, alongside other party leaders, including Abrar Rashid, who spearheaded the campaign during the Parliamentary polls, welcomed Sheikh Ashiq into the party folds.

“I welcome Sheikh Ashiq in the party fold. We are happy to take him in the party fold,” Nabi said.

He added that given the experience of Ashiq in the trade and business industry, they expect an overwhelming number of people to connect on the ground.

Speaking on the occasion, Sheikh Ashiq said that he is happy to be a part of the Er Rashid-led party, which has a true representation of people in Jammu and Kashmir.

“If there is a platform, it is the Er Rashid-led AIP, which can never think of selling off. Our bigger manifesto is to work for the welfare of the people,” he said.

He said that the people of northern Kashmir have already given him a mandate but that they will work to double it.

Meanwhile, following his formal induction into AIP, Ashiq confirmed that he would be contesting the upcoming Assembly elections from Ganderbal constituency where National Conference (NC) has given the mandate to its Vice President Omar Abdullah and PDP chose Bashir Ahmad Mir.

“The decision to field me from Ganderbal was made by the AIP party high command, despite earlier speculation that I might contest from a Srinagar constituency. I comply with the party's decision and readiness to represent the people of Ganderbal,” he said.

Pertinently, Sheikh Ashiq is a resident of Ganderbal district.

The political scene in Jammu and Kashmir is changing. For years, the usual power players called the shots in the erstwhile State. But now, something unexpected is happening. Engineer Abdul Rashid once pushed to the sidelines, has become a key figure in the Valley's political talks. What makes this even more interesting? He's doing it all from inside Tihar Jail. This turn of events shows just how unpredictable Kashmir's politics can be.

Rashid, after spending five years behind bars under the tough UAPA law, seemed to many like a figure from the past. Yet, his recent win in the Lok Sabha polls beating NC Vice President and ex-Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, has pushed him back into the limelight. Standing as an Independent for the Baramulla seat, Rashid's success goes beyond personal achievement; it shows how unhappy people are with Kashmir's established political parties.

The Awami Ittehad Party (AIP), which Rashid started, has an influence on this feeling. It sees itself as speaking for people who think the NC and the People's Democratic Party (PDP), the usual big players, let them down. Rashid's son Abrar now leads the campaign since his father can't. He's getting people to back them by pointing to his father's ongoing jail time.

What the AIP says hits home with people seeming tired of how things are. The NC and PDP have made promises for years, but many are now fed up. This has opened the door for Rashid to run as an outsider. His son says the coming Assembly vote will change everything for Kashmir. More and more people think that if Rashid gets back into politics, it could mean big changes in how the Valley is run.

The possibility of Rashid getting out of Tihar Jail is hanging in the balance. The AIP has asked for bail, and people think it might happen before the Assembly elections. If this occurs, it could fire up his followers and shake up the long-standing power balance in Kashmir politics.

Still, some questions linger. Can someone who's been in jail for five years charged with funding 'terrorism', lead a political shake-up? Or is his current fame just a flash in the pan driven more by people's frustrations than any long-term political plan?

One thing's for sure: Engineer Rashid has become a rebel figure in a place where staying in politics often means going along to get along. His rise from the edges of Kashmir's political discourse to the center of today's talks shows how politics can change in the Valley. As the Assembly elections get closer, everyone will be watching Rashid and the AIP wondering if this upstart movement can turn popular backing into real political clout.

In the Valley where it's hard to tell heroes from villains, Engineer Rashid's tale shows his toughness, his fight against the system, and his lasting wish for things to get better. From jail or while running for office, he has an impact on what's next for Jammu and Kashmir given the upcoming Assembly elections.