Khaleda Zia, Haji Salim can't contest next polls as per HC verdict
Says ACC lawyer Khurshid Alam
Tuesday, 24 October 2023
Khurshid Alam Khan, a lawyer of the Anti-corruption Commission (ACC), has said BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and Awami League MP Haji Mohammad Salim are ineligible as candidates to participate in the upcoming 12th parliamentary election as per a decision by the High Court (HC), reports UNB.
Khan said the HC verdict published on Sunday
mentioned that no convict can participate in
the election until the sentence is overturned by the
appropriate court.
"In line with this verdict, Khaleda Zia, Haji Selim and any person sentenced to more than two years in jail, whose appeal is pending, will not be able to participate in the upcoming parliamentary election," he told reporters on the Supreme Court premises on Monday.
On Sunday, the HC said no convicted persons pending their appeals or on bail will be able to participate in the election unless the sentence is overturned by the HC or five years have passed since the sentence has been served.
"This court did not suspend their sentences, they got bail. According to Article 66(2)(d) of the Constitution, appellants are not allowed to participate in elections," said the verdict.