14-Party Alliance wants SC verdict on 16th amendment scrapped

Inu, Nasim and others seek cancellation of judgment

The Awami League-led 14-Party Alliance yesterday rejected the much-talked-about verdict on the 16th amendment which stripped Parliament of its power to remove Supreme Court (SC) judges on grounds of misconduct or incapacity. The ruling alliance also demanded the cancellation of the entire verdict on the 16th amendment as the judgment, in its view, was in line with the principles of military rulers.

Mohammad Nasim, senior AL leader and coordinator of the 14-Party Alliance, raised this demand at a press conference, after holding a meeting with the alliance partners at the AL’s Dhanmondi office.

“We, the members of our alliance, are aggrieved with the verdict…we condemned the verdict…and we demand the cancellation of the 16th amendment verdict immediately through this news conference,” Nasim said.

Nasim, also the health minister, said: “The Chief Justice insulted the father of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman by making derogatory observations against him, but this man—Bangabandhu—meant Bangladesh. It is known to all that the country would not have been liberated without Bangabandhu.”

“The Chief Justice demeaned the country’s democracy, Parliament and the President by delivering such a verdict. Hence, this verdict must be repealed—otherwise the people of the country will not forgive you (the CJ),” he said, adding that the government will soon go in for legal action against the verdict.

Replying to a question over the filing of a review petition against the 16th amendment judgment, the minister said their lawyers’ group was looking into the matter.  Speaking at the media briefing, information minister Hasanul Haque Inu said this verdict should be cancelled as there was nothing wrong with the 16th amendment.

“In no way is this verdict acceptable. We do not accept such irrelevant and objectionable observations made by the Chief Justice in the verdict and this verdict should be repealed. I hope the CJ will do so,” Inu, also a factional chief of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (Jasad), asserted.

Speaking at the news conference, AL joint general secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif said this verdict has snatched away the people’s rights. “We are aggrieved with the verdict and we think this verdict should be cancelled for the sake of parliamentary democracy.”

He said the country’s people have become frustrated over the apex court verdict that has snatched away the people’s power to impeach Supreme Court judges. If Parliament can impeach the President, the country’s highest guardian, then why not Supreme Court judges, he added.

14-Party Alliance wants SC verdict on 16th amendment scrapped

Inu, Nasim and others seek cancellation of judgment

The Awami League-led 14-Party Alliance yesterday rejected the much-talked-about verdict on the 16th amendment which stripped Parliament of its power to remove Supreme Court (SC) judges on grounds of misconduct or incapacity. The ruling alliance also demanded the cancellation of the entire verdict on the 16th amendment as the judgment, in its view, was in line with the principles of military rulers. Mohammad Nasim, senior AL leader and coordinator of the 14-Party Alliance, raised this demand at a press conference, after holding a meeting with the alliance partners at the ALs Dhanmondi office. We, the members of our alliance, are aggrieved with the verdictwe condemned the verdictand we demand the cancellation of the 16th amendment verdict immediately through this news conference, Nasim said. Nasim, also the health minister, said: The Chief Justice insulted the father of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman by making derogatory observations against him, but this manBangabandhumeant Bangladesh. It is known to all that the country would not have been liberated without Bangabandhu. The Chief Justice demeaned the countrys democracy, Parliament and the President by delivering such a verdict. Hence, this verdict must be repealedotherwise the people of the country will not forgive you (the CJ), he said, adding that the government will soon go in for legal action against the verdict. Replying to a question over the filing of a review petition against the 16th amendment judgment, the minister said their lawyers group was looking into the matter. Speaking at the media briefing, information minister Hasanul Haque Inu said this verdict should be cancelled as there was nothing wrong with the 16th amendment. In no way is this verdict acceptable. We do not accept such irrelevant and objectionable observations made by the Chief Justice in the verdict and this verdict should be repealed. I hope the CJ will do so, Inu, also a factional chief of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (Jasad), asserted. Speaking at the news conference, AL joint general secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif said this verdict has snatched away the peoples rights. We are aggrieved with the verdict and we think this verdict should be cancelled for the sake of parliamentary democracy. He said the countrys people have become frustrated over the apex court verdict that has snatched away the peoples power to impeach Supreme Court judges. If Parliament can impeach the President, the countrys highest guardian, then why not Supreme Court judges, he added.