EC won't appeal against HC stay

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The Election Commission (EC) will not contest the High Court (HC) order that stayed invitation to a BNP faction to the November 22 electoral reforms dialogue, a top EC official said Saturday.
Election Commissioner Muhammed Sohul Hussain said they, however, would appeal to the court to resolve the issue before four weeks, reports UNB.
"The commission is not appealing against the HC stay order. The court goes into vacation from December 13. We want to appoint a lawyer and ask the court to resolve the matter before four weeks," he told the press at his office in the city Saturday.
"We will be in trouble if the dialogue is not completed within the stipulated time," Sohul added.
"We don't want to favour any faction. We considered one of the BNP factions legitimate and invited it to the dialogue. It is good that the matter went to the court. We will obey the High Court order," he said.
The lawyer appointed by the commission would reply to the show-cause notice issued by the HC, he said.
"We have talked to the attorney general about it," he said.
BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia petitioned to the High Court on November 18 and the court stayed for two weeks the efficacy of the invitation to acting BNP secretary general Hafizuddin Ahmed, appointed by the standing committee.
The court also asked the EC to explain why the invitation would not be declared illegal.