Lawyers to stage non-stop demo at all bars from Tuesday
BNP standing committee member Moudud Ahmed on Monday alleged that the government has placed The Constitution (Sixteenth Amendment) Bill, 2014 to re-empower parliament to remove judges with a bad intention.”
“The government’s move to amend the constitution to re-empower parliament to dismiss Supreme Court judges is an ill-motivated drive,” he said.
Moudud, also a former law minister, made the remarks while addressing a meeting arranged by Jatiyatabadi Ainjibi Forum at the South Hall of the Supreme Court, protesting the 16th constitution amendment bill.
“Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had conferred the power to remove judges on the President from parliament through the 4th constitutional amendment and shut most of the newspapers. Awami Leagues feels shame to confess to it or discuss it,” Moudud said.
He claimed BNP founder Ziaur Rahman had formed the Supreme Judicial Council to ensure the independence of the judiciary.
The Constitution (Sixteenth Amendment) Bill, 2014, seeking to empower Parliament to remove Supreme Court judges, was placed in the House on Sunday.
Calling upon the government to refrain from amending the constitution, Moudud said the government should take the decision in consultation with all concerned as it is a national issue, not a party matter.
The former law minister opined that the independence of the judiciary will be seriously harmed if the parliament’s power to remove judges is restored through the 16th amendment.
Moudud alleged that incumbent Law Commission chairman ABM Khairul Haque, also a former chief justice, had badly damaged the country.
He said Khairul Haque by condoning the martial law order retained the provision of the Supreme Judicial Council introduced by Ziaur Rahman though he declared illegal the 5th amendment cancelling all marital law-orders and regulations.
Moudud regretted that the same person (Kahirul) is now advocating for the restoration of parliament’s power to remove judges. “His current stance is unethical and it exposes that he had revoked the 5th amendment to appease the then government and now what he is saying also to appease the current regime,” Moudud observed.
Ainjibi Forum president Barrister Rafiqul Islam Miah announced that the Forum will stage demonstrations every day at all bar associations across the country from Tuesday until the father announcement protesting the 16th amendment bill.
He observed that judges will not be able to work independently after the enactment of the law.
Supreme Court Bar Association president Khandaker Mahbub Hossain urged the lawyers to get united rising above party and opinion to protect the independence of the judiciary.
Source: UNB