HC summons EC Sohul

The High Court (HC) yesterday directed Election Commissioner Muhammed Sohul Hussein to appear before it on October 7 in connection with a contempt of court petition.
Ruling Awami League lawmaker of Chandpur-1 constituency MK Alamgir earlier yesterday filed the contempt of court petition against Sohul for his comment regarding Sunday's HC order staying the effectiveness of an Election Commission (EC) gazette that declared the constituency vacant.
Sohul Hussein on Monday reportedly told the media that the EC had issued gazette notification cancelling Jatiya Sangsad membership of MK Alamgir in accordance with law and the EC will challenge the HC order with the appellate division.
The division bench of Justice AHM Shamsuddin Chowdhury Manik and Justice Sheikh Md Zakir Hossain yesterday also issued a rule upon the election commissioner to explain within 10 days why contempt of court charges should not be brought against him and he should not be punished for making this comment.
During hearing the petition, Alamgir's lawyer Barrister Rokanuddin Mahmud told the court that Election Commissioner's comment is similar to violation of the HC order of stay, as the matter regarding MK Alamgir's parliamentary membership is now a sub-judice matter.