Khaleda’s release issue 'Minister Huq gives political version of law'

Law minister gave a political interpretation of the law regarding permission for BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia to go abroad for treatment, asserted her counsel barrister Kayser Kamal on Wednesday.
"It's a political interpretation as section 401(1) of the Code of Criminal Procedure clearly provides that the government may, if it wishes, commute the sentence of a convicted prisoner."
"Even it [government] can reduce or temporarily suspend the sentence. It may be conditional or unconditional," cited barrister Kamal, also legal affairs secretary of the nationalist party.
In the case of the former prime minister, he said, they suspended the sentence conditionally. "Khaleda Zia can go abroad if the conditions are not added."
Barrister Kamal said this at his chamber at the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) building in a reaction to law minister Anisul Huq's comment.
He said, "General Aziz's (former army chief) brother was released under section 401 of the Code of Criminal Procedure by the government. They can take the same decision regarding her."
Apart from this, section 401(6) clearly mentions: "Government can take any decision in respect of any prisoner by general or special executive order."
"That's why we said it's a political interpretation of the law," continued barrister Kamal.
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