SC to hear appeal against GM Quader’s JP chairmanship on Feb 27

A full bench of the Supreme Court's Appellate Division will hold hearing on February 27, on a leave to appeal petition that challenged a High Court order clearing the way for Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader to perform the responsibilities of his post.

After a brief hearing on the leave to appeal petition, Chamber judge of the Appellate Division Justice M Enayetur Rahim today sent the matter to the full bench for its detailed hearing on February 27.

Ziaul Haque Mridha, a former JP lawmaker, submitted the leave to appeal petition through his lawyer Md Helal Uddin yesterday praying to the apex court to prohibit GM Quader from performing activities in the party.

In the petition, he also sought a stay on the HC order.

Ziaul's principal lawyer Mohammad Sayeed Ahmed Raza told The Daily Star that the HC passed the order without hearing arguments from his client.

Lawyers Sheikh Muhammed Serajul Islam and Md Ozi Ulah appeared for GM Quader during hearing.

On February 5, the HC stayed for eight weeks, a Dhaka court order that on January 19, prohibited GM Quader from taking part in any activities of Jatiya Party.

It also issued a rule asking Ziaul Haque Mridha, who challenged GM Quader's performing as the party chairman, and other authorities concerned to explain as to why the Dhaka court's order should not be scrapped.

Ziaul, also a former adviser to the JP chief, was removed from the party on September 17 last year.

The HC bench of Justice Muhammad Abdul Hafiz issued the order and rule following an appeal filed by GM Quader challenging the lower court order.

On that day, GM Quader's lawyer Sheikh Muhammed Serajul Islam told The Daily Star that there is no legal bar for his client to discharge responsibility as Jatiya Party chairman following the HC order.

GM Quader is the valid chairman of Jatiya Party as per its constitution and he has every right to perform the responsibilities of the party's chairman and make any political decision of the party, the lawyer added.

No lawyer appeared for Ziaul Haque Mridha during hearing on February 5.