Expelled Awami League leader Abdul Latif Siddique is appearing before an Election Commission hearing over his parliament membership.
Published : 23 Aug 2015, 10:26 AM
Latif Siddique appeals against High Court order
High Court scraps Latif Siddique’s plea challenging EC hearing
EC to hear from Latif Siddique, Syed Ashraf to decide former’s MP status
The former telecoms minister had moved the appeals court after the High Court scrapped his petition challenging the EC’s move.
The four-member appeals bench led by Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha heard the matter on Sunday but did not issue any order, which means the High Court’s decision remains effective.
“We pleaded for staying the Election Commission’s notice, but the Appellate Division issued a ‘no order’ on it. We are going to the Election Commission,” Siddique’s lawyer Jyotirmoy Barua told bdnews24.com.
Siddique was sacked from the Cabinet in September last year for his controversial comment on Hajj and subsequently expelled from his party.
The Tangail- 4 MP was in jail for almost nine months in several cases accusing him of ‘hurting religious sensitivities’ until he was released on bail in June this year.
On July 5, eight months after his expulsion, Awami League’s letter notifying Parliament of Siddique's ouster from the party reached Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury.
On Jul 13, the Speaker wrote to the chief election commissioner to resolve the matter when the EC asked the former minister and the Awami League general secretary to explain.
Both clarified to the EC in writing.
In his letter, Syed Ashraf asked the EC to cancel Latif Siddique’s Parliament membership as he was expelled from the party.
The Tangail MP had called the EC to let Parliament decide the issue.
The commission then wrote to both to appear before a hearing on Sunday.
Siddique moved the High Court against the initiative, but his petition was rejected on Thursday. He then moved the Appellate Division against the decision.
On Sunday, the four-member appeals bench led by the chief justice heard the matter.