JP won't backer of army or unconstitutional rule

Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad or his party will not appeal to the Appellate Division against the High Court verdict that declared the seventh amendment to the constitution illegal.

“Neither our party nor the party chief will appeal against the verdict. Our chairman has welcomed the historic judgment, as he as well as the party strongly support of democracy,” Anisul Islam Mahmud, a presidium member of Jatiya Party, told The Daily Star yesterday.

The HC on August 26 declared Ershad's military rule between March 24, 1982, and November 10, 1986 unconstitutional. The verdict suggested that Ershad be prosecuted and punished in the light of the Supreme Court judgment declaring the fifth amendment illegal. The HC also placed the matter to parliament and the government for taking decision to this end.

The verdict was against the military rule of that particular time, not the rule after 1986, said Mahmud, adding that, "We think this is positive."

Asked about the reason for accepting the verdict, he said, "We respect the verdict, as we are strong supporters of democracy, not military or unconstitutional rule. Jatiya Party handed over the state power in 1990 for the sake of democracy."

On the verdict day, HM Ershad said his party would come up with a detailed reaction after getting the copy of the verdict. He, however, welcomed the judgment terming it historic.

Sources in the party said they are in close contact with Awami League policymakers so that Ershad may escape the punishment as stated by the HC.

In his reaction to the verdict, Attorney General Mahbubey Alam on August 26 said regular appeal would be automatically filed with the Appellate Division and the Supreme Court will give the final judgment over the case. But the government will not contest the judgment on the seventh amendment, he added.

Meanwhile, the HC bench asked petitioner Siddique to surrender his bail bond to the lower court from where he obtained it and explore other legal options to deal with his problem.

-Daily Star