CEC's role made EC controversial
Barrister Masood R Sobhan, counsel for reformist BNP leader Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan, told the High Court yesterday that the role of the chief election commissioner has made the Election Commission (EC) controversial.
"His interviews with private TV channels on different occasions defending the causes of Mannan Bhuiyan put the EC in controversy, impeding its dialogue with BNP on electoral reforms," Sobhan said while arguing on the writ petition filed by detained BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia.
Bhuiyan is one of the respondents in the writ petition of Khaleda who challenged the EC decision to sit with a faction of her party led by Saifur Rahman and Maj (retd) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed.
Sobhan, however, could not give any precise answer when the court asked him who is the authority under the party's constitution to convene the standing committee's meeting.
He told the court that except for a few reformist leaders in Dhaka, there is nothing called reformists elsewhere in the country.
He said the EC has no business to hold dialogues with political parties. "The only duty of the EC is to prepare a voter list and hold general election," he added.
The court sought Sobhan's opinion about Khaleda counsel TH Khan's remark that the whole scheme behind all these activities of the EC is aimed at who it will give the BNP's election symbol--sheaf of paddy--after announcing the election schedule. But Sobhan did not make any comment.
Referring to Khaleda, Hafiz's counsel Dr Shahdin Malik said a person remaining in jail cannot file a writ petition to execute her political authority. Since she is in jail, her political power and activities remain suspended. "She cannot agitate before the court being in jail. So, the writ is not maintainable," he argued.
Supporting EC's lawyer Dr Kamal Hossain, Mailk said the matter raised before the court is political, which cannot come under the judicial review. He said disputed question of fact can be resolved at designated court, not in the High Court.
The hearing was adjourned until Monday.
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