Political parties in Kashmir have asked the Centre to respect the people’s verdict and release Sheikh Abdul Rashid aka Engineer Rashid, who won the Baramulla Lok Sabha seat from jail.

Rashid, a two-time former MLA, has been lodged in Tihar jail since his arrest in August 2019 on anti-terror charges.

Before defeating stalwarts such as former chief minister Omar Abdullah and Peoples Conference chief Sajad Lone, no politician of repute in Kashmir had called for his release before Rashid’s win.

He has polled more votes than those of Omar and Sajad put together.

According to Election Commission of India figures, Engineer Rashid bagged 4,72,481 votes while Omar came second with 2,68,339 and Sajad came third with 1,73,239 votes. The two together polled 4,41,578.

The three parliamentary seats in Kashmir have clocked an impressive 50 per cent turnout, the highest since the inception of militancy, which has been hailed by the country’s top leadership, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as a victory of Indian democracy.

However, the results have gone against its much-publicised all-is-well narrative both in Kashmir and Ladakh. The National Conference has won the two other Valley seats while Independent candidate Mohmad Haneefa won by a margin of 27,906 votes in the Ladakh Lok Sabha constituency, wresting the seat from the BJP.

Peoples Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti on Wednesday said the government of India must respect the verdict and release Rashid.

“Heartfelt congratulations to Mian Altaf, Aga Ruhullah, Engineer Rashid & Haneefa Jan (other winning candidates from Valley and Ladakh) for winning the parliament elections. Government of India must respect verdict of the people & release Engineer Rashid,” she said in a post on X.

CPM central committee member M.Y. Tarigami also demanded Rashid’s release.

“Engineer Rashid, who was arrested under the UAPA, won the elections yesterday. My demand is that he along with those booked under the draconian law of UAPA should be released,” Tarigami said.

On Tuesday, Omar had also demanded his release.

Rashid’s son Abrar, who led the election campaign in his absence, said the Centre should respect the verdict and take steps that are good for Kashmir and its youth.

“They (youth) need peace, security and the right to live without fear. My request to the central government is that if the youth here have reposed faith in democracy, they should respect their verdict,” he said.

Abrar has all through his election campaign sought the release of his father and other Kashmiris detained in jails across the country.

He said his father’s victory had shown that elections can be won without money and muscle power and party cadres if it was based on principles.