Salam gets AD nod, Sadiq refiles petition

Staff Reporter  :
The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld a December 18 High Court order that okayed the candidacy of Major General (retd) MA Salam, the ruling Awami League’s candidate from Mymensingh-9 constituency.

Justice M Enayetur Rahim, Chamber Judge of the Appellate Division of the SC, passed ‘no order’ after hearing a petition filed against the High Court order by another candidate of the constituency.

Lawyer Probir Neogi who appeared in the court proceedings on behalf of MA Salam said the High Court asked Returning Officer to accept the nomination paper of his client and to allocate him symbol.

In the meantime, MA Salam has got his symbol to contest the polls. The Chamber Judge issued ‘no order’ in response to a petition filed by Anwarul Abedin, another candidate of the constituency, against the High Court order. As a result, the HC order was upheld and the candidacy of MA Salam remained.

The RO declared MA Salam’s candidacy legal after the scrutiny. Anwarul Adedin Khan appealed to the EC against the decision of RO.

On December 15, the EC rejected Salam’s nomination, citing allegations of being a loan defaulter.

Finally MA Salam filed a writ petition with the High Court. Following the petition, the High Court on December 18 overturned the Election Commission’s decision to cancel the nomination of MA Salam.

Anwarul Abedin Khan then filed a petition challenging the HC order. After hearing the petition the Chamber Judge passed ‘no order’ on it.

Lawyer Shah Monjurul Hoque appeared in the court hearing on behalf of Anwarul Abedin Khan, while lawyer Probir Neogi appeared for MA Salam.

Meanwhile, Serniabat Sadiq Abdullah, an independent candidate from Barishal-5 constituency, on Wednesday again filed a petition with the Chamber Judge’s court seeking restoring his candidacy.

The Chamber Judge on December 19 stayed for eight weeks a High Court order that overturned the Election Commission’s decision to cancel the nomination of independent candidate Sadiq Abdullah.

However, the candidate filed a new petition seeking vacate of the Chamber Judge’s decision, said his lawyer Khurshid Alam Khan.