Jamaat told to recast it

The Election Commission yesterday asked Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami to bring some more changes in its constitution and submit those to the EC by December 5 to meet the criteria for retaining its registration.
In a letter to the Jamaat secretary general, the EC specified some provisions stipulated in the party's charter which do not conform to the country's constitution and Representation of the People Order (RPO), sources in the commission said.
The RPO clearly stipulates that a political party will be disqualified from getting registered if any provision in its charter contradicts the country's constitution and the RPO.
Registration with the EC is a prerequisite for any political party to contest parliamentary polls.
The commission gave the Jamaat a fresh time frame as it did not make the necessary changes although the deadline for doing so expired around three years ago.
Jamaat, however, still remains a registered political party due to inaction of the EC.
The commission has the authority to cancel the registration of Jamaat if it fails to amend the constitution as required.
Several clauses in the Jamaat charter of call for establishing the rule of Islam in the country through organised efforts. The party also refuses to accept parliament's plenary powers to formulate laws, saying people must not accept anyone except Allah as the maker of laws.
Like other political parties, Jamaat got registered with the EC before the December 29, 2008, parliamentary polls after bringing some provisional changes in its constitution.
Just as the 38 other registered parties, Jamaat was supposed to submit its amended constitution to the EC by January 24, 2010.
On expiry of the deadline, the commission asked Jamaat twice -- in January and April, 2010 -- to amend the charter. But Jamaat did not respond.
EC officials said they would send letters to seven other political parties including Islami Oikya Jote and Bikalpadhara Bangladesh asking them to bring some minor changes in their constitutions.