Srinagar, July 15 -- The Awami Ittehad Party on Tuesday announced that its political affairs committee has authorised party president and Baramulla member of Parliament, Engineer Rashid, to make the final decision regarding the National Conference's invitation to join the July 20 protest in the national capital for the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir's statehood.

Rashid is currently behind bars in Delhi's Tihar Jail on terror-funding charges.

AIP chief spokesperson Inam Un Nabi said the invitation has been conveyed to Rashid through his legal team, leaving the ultimate choice to him in the broader interest of the region.

However, the party accompanied this development with criticism of the National Conference, urging its leadership to...