SC upholds HC stay order on four arson cases against Khaleda
The Supreme Court yesterday upheld the High Court orders that stayed the trial proceedings against BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia in four separate vandalism and arson cases filed in 2015.
The apex court, however, asked the HC to hear and dispose of the rules issued in connection with the cases. It asked Attorney General Mahbubey Alam to take necessary steps in this regard.
A six-member bench of the SC Appellate Division headed by Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain came up with the orders after virtually hearing four leave to appeal petitions filed by the state seeking stay on the HC orders.
Mahbubey Alam appeared for the state while lawyers AM Mahbub Uddin Khokon and Bodruddoza Badal represented Khaleda.
Bodruddoza told The Daily Star that the HC stay orders on the trial proceedings against Khaleda Zia will remain in force following the apex court orders.
The High Court will hold hearing on the rules for their disposals, he said, adding that Khaleda is on bail in these cases.
Khaleda Zia is accused in total 37 cases and she is on bail in 35 cases and has been convicted in two (Zia orphanage and Zia charitable) cases.
The BNP chairperson got released from jail following an executive order issued by the government on March 25.
Following four separate petitions filed by Khaleda, the HC in May 2017 stayed the trial proceedings against her in four vandalism and arson cases and also issued four rules asking the government to explain as to why the case proceedings should not be scrapped.
On August 17, the SC upheld HC orders that stayed the trial proceedings against Khaleda in four other vandalism and arson cases filed in 2015.
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