EC to give Jamaat second deadline
Monday, 3 May 2010
The Election Commission (EC) Sunday decided to ask Jamaat-e-Islami to amend its constitution, so that it conforms to the electoral laws, reports bdnews24.com.
The commission told the fundamentalist Islamist party to amend certain sections of its constitution by May 31 in such fashion that they do not contradict with the laws.
There are at least seven articles in Jamaat's constitution that contradict with the RPO (Representation of the People's Order).
NI Khan, joint secretary (law) of the EC Secretariat and convener of the committee on scrutinising party constitutions, said, "EC has decided to write to Jamaat-e-Islami, asking it to amend the controversial articles."
The letter will be sent to the party secretary Monday, he said, adding that it is the second time that the Election Commission is requesting the party for a second time.
The commission on April 25 wrote to 14 political parties, including Jamaat, asking them to amend sections of their constitutions that had inconsistencies and contradiction with the laws of the land.
Khan said the EC set another deadline for Jamaat, as it failed to respond EC's earlier call, and will decide its own course of action, if Jamaat fails to respond by the new deadline.
Earlier on March 25, election commissioner M Shakhawat Hossain told reporters that measures would be taken in line with the registration guidelines, if any party failed to amend its constitution accordingly. Guidelines have the provision of scrapping registration, if amended constitutions are not submitted.
Shakhawat said, "Although the EC is empowered to scrap party registration, it should not be done hastily." The parties could consult with the EC, which will help resolve their problems, he added.
The commission told the fundamentalist Islamist party to amend certain sections of its constitution by May 31 in such fashion that they do not contradict with the laws.
There are at least seven articles in Jamaat's constitution that contradict with the RPO (Representation of the People's Order).
NI Khan, joint secretary (law) of the EC Secretariat and convener of the committee on scrutinising party constitutions, said, "EC has decided to write to Jamaat-e-Islami, asking it to amend the controversial articles."
The letter will be sent to the party secretary Monday, he said, adding that it is the second time that the Election Commission is requesting the party for a second time.
The commission on April 25 wrote to 14 political parties, including Jamaat, asking them to amend sections of their constitutions that had inconsistencies and contradiction with the laws of the land.
Khan said the EC set another deadline for Jamaat, as it failed to respond EC's earlier call, and will decide its own course of action, if Jamaat fails to respond by the new deadline.
Earlier on March 25, election commissioner M Shakhawat Hossain told reporters that measures would be taken in line with the registration guidelines, if any party failed to amend its constitution accordingly. Guidelines have the provision of scrapping registration, if amended constitutions are not submitted.
Shakhawat said, "Although the EC is empowered to scrap party registration, it should not be done hastily." The parties could consult with the EC, which will help resolve their problems, he added.