Khaleda’s nomination plea hearing deferred to Tuesday

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Bangla Tribune Report
Published : 16:19, Dec 17, 2018 | Updated : 16:21, Dec 17, 2018

Khaleda Zia (File Photo)The High Court (HC) has deferred the hearing of BNP chief Khaleda Zia’s three petitions challenging the Election Commission’s decision to scrap her nomination to Tuesday (Dec 18).
The single bench of Justice JBM Hassan gave the orders on Monday (Dec 17).
Khaleda’s counsel Badruddoza Badal moved for the petition while Deputy Attorney General Motahar Hossain Saju moved for the State.
On Dec 13, the former prime minister’s counsel expressed no confidence on the HC bench formed to hear the pleas, after which they were directed to file a written application voicing the matter.
However, during the hearing on Monday, her counsel said that they haven’t been able to affidavit the application and asked for more time after which the court deferred the hearing date.
Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain fixed the single bench of Justice JBM Hassan on Wednesday (Dec 12) to dispose of the former prime minister’s petitions as a HC bench had previously issued a split verdict on the matter.
On Tuesday (Dec 11), the bench of justices Syed Refaat Ahmed and Md Iqbal Kabir heard all three of Khaleda’s writs challenging the EC’s decision to scrap her nominations for three parliamentary races.
The bench issued a divided order with Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed issuing a rule directing the EC to accept Khaleda’s nomination.
On the other hand, Justice Iqbal Kabir upheld the EC’s decision blocking Khaleda from contesting the polls slated for Dec 30. The matter was then passed over to the chief justice for final decision.
On Dec 2, the returning officers scrapped all three of the former prime minister’s nomination in the Feni-1, Bogra-6 and 7 constituencies on grounds of her jail term.
Khaleda later appealed the decision with the Election Commission on Dec 8, but her petition was rejected after which she moved the HC on Dec 9.

A three-time prime minister, the BNP chief is currently serving a 10-year term in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case.

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