Hearing on Jamaat’s appeal to get back registration starts

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court (SC) has started hearing on a petition filed by the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, challenging the High Court verdict that revoked its registration as a political party.

The hearing began at a four-member apex court bench headed by Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed on Tuesday (December 3).

At end of today’s proceedings, the court set December 10 for next hearing.

Supreme Court lawyers Barrister Ehsan A Siddiq and Advocate Mohammad Shishir Manir moved the petition before the court.

During the hearing, Jamaat lawyers said, “The writ filed to cancel Jamaat’s registration was politically motivated.”

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court (SC) on October 22 restored Jamaat-e-Islami’s appeal against the High Court verdict, paving way for the party to take part in the hearing on an appeal against the 2013 verdict that had declared its registration as a political party, illegal.

The High Court on August 1, 2013, declared illegal Jamaat’s registration as a political party. A three-member greater bench of the High Court comprising Justice M Moazzem Hossain, Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Kazi Reza-ul-Huq delivered the judgment on majority.

The judgment said the registration given to Jamaat by the Election Commission was beyond lawful authority.