Engineer Rashid Age, Wife, Children, Family, Biography

Bio/Wiki
Full Name	Abdul Rashid Sheikh
Profession	Politician
Physical Stats & More
Height (approx.)	5'7" (170 cm)
Eye Colour	Brown
Hair Colour	Grey (Semi-bald)
Politics
Political Party	Awami Ittehad Party
Political Journey	• Contested as an Independent and won the Legislative Assembly Election from Langate, Jammu and Kashmir (2008) • Founded Awami Ittehad Party (2013) • Contested as an Independent and won the Legislative Assembly Election from Langate constituency (2014) • Contested as an Independent and lost the Lok Sabha Election from Baramulla, Jammu and Kashmir (2019) • Contested as an Independent and won the Lok Sabha Election from Baramulla (2024)
Personal Life
Date of Birth	19 August 1967 (Saturday)
Age (as of 2024)	57 Years
Birthplace	Mawar, Langate, Jammu and Kashmir
Zodiac sign	Leo
Signature
Nationality	Indian
Hometown	Langate, Jammu and Kashmir
College/University	• University of Kashmir, Jammu & Kashmir • Kashmir Government Polytechnic College, Gogji Bagh, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir
Educational Qualification	• BSC Medical from the University of Kashmir (1988) • Diploma (Civil Engineering) from the Kashmir Government Polytechnic College (1991)
Religion	Islam
Food Habit	Non-vegetarian
Controversies	• Mercy petition for Afzal Guru In 2011, he tried to pass a resolution in the state assembly, seeking mercy petition for Afzal Guru, who was a co-conspirator of the Indian Parliament attack in 2001. • Demand for revocations of 1862 Beef Ban Law In 2014, he demanded a revocation for the Beef Ban Law which was passed in 1862 and bans slaughter, sale and possession of beef in Kashmir. • Demand for apology from Kashmiri Pandits In April 2015, he demanded Kashmiri Pandits to provide an unconditional apology for leaving Kashmir and said, "Kashmiri Pandits must seek unconditional apology from the majority community for migration and leaving them behind at the mercy of guns, grenades, bullets, crack-downs, PSAs, AFSPA, custodial killings, rapes, murders, forced labor, custodial disappearances, humiliation and rule of lawlessness" • Attacked for hosting a beef party On 8 October 2015, he was attacked by a few BJP MLAs inside the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly for hosting a beef party. On 19 October 2015, he was attacked with black ink and mobil oil by members of the Hindu Sena in New Delhi.[1]The Hindu • Detained for marching towards the Chief Minister Mufti Sayeed's residence In November 2015, he was detained while marching towards the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Mufti Sayeed's residence in an attempt to boycott the killing of an engineering student, Gowhar Ahmad Dar, who was killed by a tear smoke shell allegedly fired by police to disperse a stone-pelting mob. • Demand for plebiscite In 2016, he stated that Kashmir is not an integral part of India or Pakistan. He demanded for a plebiscite (vote) to let the people of Kahmir decide where they want to go, and said, "You need to give the Kashmiris the right to decided whether they want to be part of this side of Kashmir or that side of Kashmir or if they want something else" • Support for Pakistan's cricket team In 2017, after India lost to Pakistan in the Champions Trophy final, a television journalist asked him whom did he support. He replied that he supported Pakistan's cricket team. • Arrested under UAPA In 2017, he was summoned by NIA in a case related to terror funding. In August 2019, soon after the removal of Article 370, Engineer Rashid was charged with UAPA (Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act) by the National Investigation Agency and arrested (NIA). On 16 March, 2022 he was further accused for inciting disaffection against the government of India and armed forces and accepting funds from Pakistan.
Social Media	• Instagram • Facebook • Twitter
Relationships & More
Marital Status	Married
Family
Wife/Spouse	Fehmeeda Begum (Housemaid)
Children	Son(s)-2 • Abrar Rashid • Asrar Rashid Daughter-1 • Shabnam Rashid
Parents	Father- Khazir Mohammad Sheikh Mother- Rahmi Begum
Siblings	Brother- Khursheed Ahmad Sheikh (Teacher)
Money Factor
Salary (approx.)	Rs. 2 lacs + other allowances (as of 2024)
Assets/Properties (as of 2024)	Movable Assets • Deposits in Banks, Financial Institutions, and Non-Banking Financial Companies: Rs. 1,424 Immovable Assets • Non-Agricultural Land: Rs. 65,00,000 • Residential Buildings: Rs. 90,00,000
Net Worth (approx.)	Rs. 1,40,58,866 (as of 2024)

Some Lesser Known Facts About Engineer Rashid

• In 1978, he joined the Jammu and Kashmir People’s Conference, formed by the separatist political leader, Abdul Gani Lone.

• Engineer Rashid became involved in secessionist politics as a teenager.

• After completing his education, he worked as a construction engineer in the Jammu and Kashmir Projects Construction Corporation.
  

  Engineer Rashid during his youth

• He came under the limelight after he campaigned in the Langate constituency of Jammu and Kashmir against the army’s alleged forced labour in early 2000.

• After the assassination of Abdul Gani Lone, in 2002, his son, Sajad Gani Lone, became the leader of the Jammu and Kashmir People’s Conference.

• In an interview, he stated that he was detained and tortured by a group of counter-insurgents who were working with the State police in 2006. He further claimed that he had to pay Rs. 1.5 lakh as ransom to secure his release.

• Rashid shared a good friendship with Sajad Gani Lone and both wanted to contest the Assembly elections of 2008 after the assassination.

• But, in 2008, Sajad boycotted the election, forcing Engineer Rashid to contest the polls as an Independent candidate.

• While talking to the press, he spoke about why he organised the controversial beef party in the government guest house in 2015 and said,
  

  I never eat non-vegetarian food in my constituency. But it hurts me when people like Sakshi Maharaj or Haryana Chief Minister (M.L.) Khattar dictate me what to eat and what not to eat.”

• In 2015, he claimed that he was caught between the separatists of Kashmir and the rightwing extremists, and said,
  

  The separatists are baying for my blood and the rightwing extremists are watching how Engineer will be lynched in public.”

• In 2019, he ran the Lok Sabha election campaign majorly through Facebook,  receiving over 1 lakh votes. Even though he lost the election, he stated that the use of social media has given him the confidence to run for elections against his richer opponents.

• Although he has not been convicted, he has been in prison since 2019 under serious charges of UAPA  (Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act).

• In 2024, he contested the Lok Sabha election, while in jail for 5 years, and defeated the former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah by more than two lakh votes.

• His election campaign was led by his sons, Abrar and Asrar Rashid. Abrar Rashid is pursuing an MSc from the Islamia College of Srinagar.
  

  Abrar Rashid (left) campaigning for his father