SC rejects govt appeal against bails to Tarique

The Supreme Court (SC) rejected Monday half a dozen government and Anti-corruption Commission (ACC) pleas for stay on High Court (HC) orders granting bail to budding BNP leader Tarique Rahman in as many graft cases, thereby upholding the HC instructions for his interim release, reports UNB.brPronouncing orders that the prayers for stay are 'refused', Justice M Joynul Abedin of the vacation bench of the Supreme Court advised the applicants to file review petitions against the standing Appellate Division judgement regarding bail on health grounds.brThe government and the ACC filed six separate applications for stay - three were filed after getting permission Monday for analogous hearings.brDuring the hearings, Attorney General (AG) Salahuddin Ahmed opposed Tarique's bail on health grounds, saying that the government had been providing the ailing accused with best available treatment. brTarique enjoys the facility of whatever treatment he needs and is allowed to meet specialised physicians according to his choice. So, he does not deserve bail for overseas treatment, the chief government law officer argued.brThe AG was skeptical about serious illness of Tarique, elder son of detained immediate-past Premier Khaleda Zia. brHe pointed out that Tarique stood up from the stretcher on hearing the High Court orders granting him bail one after another.brInterrupting the AG, Justice Abedin said, There may be action and reaction in a person's mind after any such event. brIn throwing away the stay applications, Justice Abedin said I do not want to interfere into the High Court orders that granted bail to Tarique on health grounds on recommendation by the medical board.brHe further observed that the High Court had granted Tarique bail in the light of the Appellate Division's seven-point guidelines, which have become a law of the land. brTo underpin his view Justice Abedin referred to the case of Awami League front-ranking leader Mohammad Nasim and rights-activist Sigma Huda. brThe two bigwigs, already convicted, were confirmed bail by the Appellate Division by spelling out the guidelines. brEmerging from the court, Barrister Rafiqul Islam Mian, a counsel for Tarique, told reporters that there was no more legal bar to the release of his client.brWithin 24 hours Tarique can walk to freedom, Barrister Rafique said about Tarique's release, which is now the talk of the town.br