Delhi Polls: After Tahir Hussain, AIMIM To Field Delhi Riots Accused Shahrukh Pathan From Seelampur

The speculations emerged after AIMIM Delhi chief Dr Shoaib Jamai met the family of Shahrukh Pathan, who is an accused in the 2020 Delhi riots. 

A recent visit by a delegation of AIMIM leaders to Seelampur in the national capital has raised speculation that the party is planning to give election ticket to Delhi riots accused Shahrukh Pathan in the assembly polls. 

The speculations emerged after AIMIM Delhi chief Dr Shoaib Jamai met the family of Shahrukh Pathan, who is an accused in the 2020 Delhi riots. 

Pathan infamously pointed a gun at a policeman during the Delhi riots, the photo of which went viral. He is currently lodged in the Tihar Jail. 

The meeting has led to speculations that Asaduddin Owaisi's party may consider fielding Pathan as the candidate from Seelampur in the Delhi Assembly elections, scheduled to be held in February next year.

"Recently, I met Shahrukh Pathan's mother at his home who is in jail. A delegation of Delhi Majlis (AIMIM) met his family and discussed about his condition and legal aid. This small step of ours in the campaign for justice in Delhi will give courage to many families whose children are languishing in jail for years without trial," Jamai said.

"According to the Supreme Court, bail is a right of those prisoners whose cases are pending. His mother says that the case was filed against her son at the behest of Arvind Kejriwal and he will not be able to forget this," he added in a post on X.

Speaking to ABP News on the possibility of giving a ticket to Shahrukh Pathan, Shoaib Jamai said, "As the state president my responsibility is give help to those families in Delhi if there is a delay in justice... Right now I have fulfilled my responsibility as the party's state president. When it comes to ticket, the senior leadership takes decision. But I think that Seelampur needs a good candidate. The AIMIM will give the ticket to a strong candidate."

Shahrukh Pathan, had absconded after allegedly pointing a gun at a policeman during the northeast Delhi riots in 2020. He was made an accused in a case related to rioting, causing injuries to police personnel and gunshot injury sustained by one Rohit Shukla by an armed mob.

The AIMIM earlier gave ticket to Tahir Hussain, another accused in the Delhi riots case, from the Mustafabad constituency. AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi said that Hussain, former councillor from AAP, will the party candidate from the Mustafabad seat.

"MCD Councillor Tahir Hussain joined AIMIM and will be our candidate from Mustafabad Assembly Constituency in the upcoming Delhi Vidhan Sabha elections. His family members & supporters met with me today & joined the party," Owaisi said in a post on X earlier this month.

AIMIM is planning to contest around 10 seats in the 70-seat Delhi Assembly Elections, which are due in February next year.