The High Court has declared parliament membership of Mymensingh-9 lawmaker Abdus Salam illegal.
The bench of Justices Mirza Hussain Haider and Muhammad Khurshid Alam Sarkar issued the ruling on Thursday after the final hearing on a writ petition.
The court’s verdict cancelling the Awami League lawmaker’s membership comes just months before the next national elections.
Salam, a retired Major General, was also the chief of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Communications Ministry.
The writ was filed by one Jamal Uddin, an activist of the ruling party.
Lawyer M Qamrul Haque Siddiqui represented the plaintiff while Syed Mamum Mahbub stood for Salam. Deputy Attorney General Al Amin argued for the state in the hearing on Thursday.
Mamun Mahbub said the Election Commission (EC) had cancelled Abdus Salam’s nomination papers before the last parliamentary election. But he contested with the High Court’s permission and won.
The writ was filed asking whether the High Court could be moved against a decision taken by the EC.
“This is a serious legal question. We think, we did not get justice. We will appeal.”
Mahbub said the membership cancellation order would not come into effect immediately. The Election Commission will take steps only after getting a copy of the verdict.
Deputy Attorney General Al Amin said the court had issued a rule on two issues. The final verdict on the writ came after the court in one of the rulings asked why Salam’s membership in parliament would not be cancelled.
But the court did not give any order on the other ruling which asked why an order to hold an election in that constituency within 90 days would not be given.
The Mymensingh district returning office had cancelled Abdus Salam’s nomination papers on Dec 4, 2008, over allegations of loan default. The EC also rejected his appeal against the cancellation order.
Later, the High Court had put on hold both EC and returning officer’s order after Salam filed a writ and ordered to accept his nomination papers for contesting in the ninth parliamentary polls.
Source: Bd news24
