Hours after the High Court (HC) dismissed his writ petition filed challenging the jurisdiction of the Election Commission (EC) to hold hearing on the legitimacy of his parliament membership, sacked minister Abdul Latif Siddique moved the Supreme Court against the order on Thursday.
His counsel filed a petition with the Chamber Judge Court of the Appellate Division at noon after the High Court delivered its verdict in the morning,
Chamber Judge Justice Hasan Foez Siddique sent the petition to the regular bench of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court fixing Sunday for hearing.
Earlier, an HC bench comprising Justice M Emdadul Haque and Justice Mohammad Khurshid Alam Sarkar dismissed the writ petition filed by expelled Awami League leader challenging the authority of the EC to hold hearing on the legitimacy of his parliament membership and seeking a stay order on the effectiveness of its notice asking him to attend the hearing on August 23.
Now, it will be decided on Sunday whether Latif Siddique will have to attend the hearing of the EC on the day.
Latif filed the petition with the HC on August 16 challenging the EC’s August 9 notice which fixed August 23 for hearing the dispute.
Siddique was sacked as the posts and telecommunications minister on October 12 last year for his “derogatory” comments on hajj, Tablighi Jamaat, and prime minister’s son Sajeeb Wazed Joy at a New York programme on September 28.
On October 24, the ruling Awami League cancelled his party membership.
Awami League general secretary Syed Ashraful Islam on July 7 informed Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury of the ruling party’s decision.
On July 13, the Speaker wrote the Chief Election Commissioner for taking necessary steps in this regard.
On July 16, the EC sent notices to both Latif and Awami League to send their explanations over his membership by August 2. Both sides submitted their replies through representatives.
The EC on August 9 sent notices to the ruling party and Latif to attend hearing on August 23 for determination of Latif’s parliamentary membership.
Later, Latif moved the High Court against the authority of the EC to hold hearing in this regard.
Source: UNB
