Srinagar, April 18 -- The Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) on Tuesday moved a plea in Patiala House Court for interim bail for jailed Baramulla MP Engineer Rashid, citing the deteriorating health of his father, Khazir Mohammad Sheikh. Sheikh, who was admitted to the Chest Diseases Hospital three weeks ago before being shifted to the ICU at SMHS Hospital, has been put on a life-support ventilator. "He is in ICU and on a ventilator. I can't discuss his health conditions any further, "said SMHS medical superintendent, Dr Andleeb Bashir. AIP chief spokesperson Inam-un-Nabi said that an application has been filed before the competent court, urging a compassionate view given the "gravity and urgency" of the medical situation. "This is a painful moment for the family. It is only humane that a father gets to see his son and a son is allowed to be beside his ailing father in these critical moments," Nabi said, adding that the appeal transcends legalities. Several leaders joined the call for Rashid's temporary release on humanitarian grounds. On Tuesday, Apni Party president Altaf Bukhari visited SMHS Hospital to check on Sheikh's condition and expressed solidarity with the family. Rashid, who won the Baramulla Lok Sabha seat in 2024 while in custody, has been lodged in Tihar Jail since 2019 following his arrest by the National Investigation Agency in connection with a terror-funding case. While he was previously granted a brief parole to take his oath as a member of Parliament in July, his regular and interim bail pleas have faced stiff opposition from central agencies in the past....