SC stays HC order against MP Azim

The Supreme Court yesterday allowed independent lawmaker Md Fazlul Azim to move a regular appeal before it against a High Court verdict that cancelled his parliamentary membership in August last year.
The apex court will hear the appeal on December 5 and stayed the effect of the HC verdict till that day.
Barrister Mustafizur Rahman Khan, a lawyer for Fazlul Azim, told The Daily Star that his client's parliamentary membership will remain valid until further order of the Appellate Division.
A seven-member bench of the Appellate Division of SC headed by Chief Justice Md Muzammel Hossain passed the order after granting a leave to appeal filed by Fazlul Azim seeking its permission to move a regular appeal before it challenging the HC verdict.
Fazlul Azim is a lawmaker from Noakhali-6 constituency (Hatiya-Subarnachar).
On August 26 last year, the HC declared the election result of the constituency illegal and asked the Election Commission to hold by-election in that constituency.
The HC verdict came after Ayesha Ferdous, who was an independent candidate from the same constituency, filed a petition with the HC in February last year challenging the validity of the election result.
The 9th parliamentary election was held on December 28, 2008. Neither Awami League nor BNP nominated candidates for Noakhali-6 constituency.