The High Court yesterday declared illegal the parliament membership of Maj Gen (retd) Abdus Salam, who was elected from Mymensingh-9 on Awami League nomination.
The court came up with the verdict upon hearing a writ petition that challenges the legality of Salam's holding office as a member of the Jatiya Sangsad.
In February, AL leader of Mymensingh-9 constituency Jamal Uddin filed the petition, saying Salam had participated in the December 29, 2008 election as a loan defaulter.
The Election Commission had cancelled his application of candidacy for defaulting on loans but let him contest the poll upon an HC order.
Talking to The Daily Star, Salam's lawyer Syed Mamun Mahbub said the EC could not cancel his client's parliament membership till release of the full verdict. Moreover, there is not enough time now to hold a by-election to Mymensingh-9, he added.
The grounds on which the HC bench of Justice Mirza Hussain Haider and Justice Muhammad Khurshid Alam Sarkar came up with the order was not immediately known as the court did not release the full verdict.
Advocate Quamrul Hauqe Siddique appeared for the petitioner, while Deputy Attorney General Al Amin Sarkar represented the government.