SC asks cops not to torture Jamaat trio

The Supreme Court (SC) yesterday upheld a High Court (HC) order that asked the police not to torture Jamaat-e-Islami Chief Motiur Rahman Nizami, its Secretary General Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojahid and Nayeb-e-Ameer Delwar Hossain Sayedee in any manner during remand in a sedition case.
Chamber Judge of the SC's Appellate Division Justice SK Sinha yesterday did not pass any order on the government's petition seeking stay on the HC order.
Barrister Abdur Razzaq, principal counsel for the Jamaat leaders, told The Daily Star that the chamber bench of the Appellate Division did not pass any order on the government's petition against the HC order, and it means that the HC decision has been upheld.
Following a writ petition, the HC on July 15 in an order asked police not to torture the three top Jamaat leaders after taking them on remand in the sedition case filed with Uttara Police Station in March this year.
The HC also ordered the police authorities to allow counsels of the remanded Jamaat leaders to meet them for legal consultations, to take steps for their medical check-ups and supply pillows to them for sleeping.
The government recently filed a petition with the SC for staying the HC order.
A Dhaka court on June 30 placed the Jamaat trio on remand for interrogation in this case.
Additional Attorney General MK Rahman, however, said there is no bar for the police to taking the Jamaat leaders on remand in the sedition case following the chamber judge's order.