Mehbooba Mufti Accuses Authorities of Using Jailed Leader Engineer Rashid to Split Kashmiri Vote

At a major PDP rally in Pulwama, Mehbooba Mufti, leader of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), criticized the empowerment of detained political figures in Kashmir. She specifically mentioned Engineer Rashid, a separatist leader and founder of the Awami Ittehad Party (AIP), who has been granted interim bail until October 2. Mufti alleged that Rashid is being used strategically to divide the Kashmiri vote in the upcoming Assembly Elections 2024.”While families of many Kashmiri prisoners are denied the right to meet their loved ones, candidates behind bars are being empowered during elections,” Mufti stated, raising concerns over fairness in the electoral process. Engineer Rashid, a significant figure in Kashmir’s political landscape, has been contesting several assembly segments through his AIP, which aims to carve a distinct space in the region’s politics.Her remarks highlights the increasing political maneuvering in Kashmir, as the state gears up for crucial elections amid a charged atmosphere.