STAFF CORRESPONDENT

The Supreme Court, in the full text of its judgement on Jamaat-e-Islami’s registration, observed that the Representation of the People Order (RPO) contains no provision barring a political party’s registration based on the role of its leaders during the Liberation War.

The SC made the observation in the 51-page full text of its verdict, released recently.

“The 25 writ petitioners, who challenged the legality of Jamaat’s registration before the High Court, have tendered objection to the effect that due to the heinous role of its leaders during the Liberation War, it should not have been given registration to do politics in Bangladesh,” the verdict said.

“Their grievance appears to be sentimental rather than legal, as the RPO does not incorporate any provision to refuse registration to any political party for the role of its leaders during the Liberation War,” it added.

On June 1 last year, a four-member Appellate Division bench headed by then chief justice Syed Refaat Ahmed scrapped a 2013 High Court verdict that had declared Jamaat’s registration illegal.

SEE PAGE 4 COL 4