Dhaka – The ruling Awami League (AL) has said some observations of the Supreme Court verdict on the 16th amendment, are irrelevant, objectionable and unacceptable. The government will take a decision later on whether it will file a review petition or not on the issue.“The Supreme Court in its verdict on 16th amendment to the constitution gave some irrelevant observations which were not expected. We have already formed a cell to scrutinize these observations and we will take decision in this regard later whether we will review or not,” said AL presidium member Abdul Matin Khasru said yesterday.
Khasru, also the former law minister came up with the statements in a party press conference at the Awami League president Sheikh Hasina’s Dhanmondi political office, in the city.
The ruling AL for the first time gave the reaction formally on the Supreme Court verdict that scrapped the 16th amendment to the constitution.
The AL-led 10th parliament on 17 September 2014 unanimously passed the Constitution (Sixteenth Amendment) Bill restoring its power to remove Supreme Court judges on the grounds of misconduct or incapacity, scrapping the existing constitutional provisions for the Supreme Judicial Council inquiry into such allegations.
But, the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court on 3 July this year scrapped the 16th amendment and restored the Supreme Judicial Council, to utter dismay of the ruling AL.
However, the senior AL leader accused the BNP of misleading the people by presenting some observations of the SC verdict distortedly before the nation which is very unfortunate.
“We should not do politics over any court verdict but BNP is doing so in a bid to gain politically. But their evil attempt will not be succeeded eventually,” he said.
Replying to a question he said, “Yes, some of our party leaders have been making statements over verdict but I will tell that it is justifiable to criticize any verdict constructively.”
In response to another question whether the government is trying to compromise with the Chief Justice, he said, “we met Chief justice Surendra Kumar Sinha recently but it was a courtesy call. Besides, we are not opponent to judiciary.”
Speaking at the press conference AL law affairs secretary SM Rejaul Karim criticized BNP leaders for their statements that the government should resign from power following the SC court’s observations in the 16th amendment verdict.
Among others, AL organizing secretary Barrister Muhibul Hassan Chowdhury, its office secretary Barrister Biplob Barua and central committee members Anwar Hossian and SM Kamal. – Staff Reporter
