National Polls: Petition filed against new MPs' taking offices

A writ petition was filed yesterday with the High Court challenging legality of holding parliamentary offices by the MPs elected in the December 30 national election.

Advocate Md Taherul Islam Tawhid submitted the petition seeking necessary orders on the authorities to bar the new lawmakers from discharging duties.

In the petition, he also requested the HC to issue a rule upon the Election Commission and the government to explain the legal basis upon which the new lawmakers are holding parliamentary offices.

According to section 143(3) of the constitution, an MP will be deemed to have taken office as soon as s/he is sworn in, he argued. 

The tenure of the 10th parliament will expire on January 28, but the new lawmakers were sworn in on January 3, breaching the constitution, the petitioner said.

The HC may hear the petition today, said Barrister Saqeb Mahbub, the petitioner's lawyer.

Earlier on January 17, the HC rejected another writ petition filed by Advocate Taherul, challenging the legality of oath taking of the lawmakers elected in the 11th national election.

After the rejection order, Attorney General Mahbubey Alam said there is no legal bar for the newly elected lawmakers to perform their duties.