Shafique refutes media report
Tuesday, 26 October 2010
Law Minister Shafique Ahmed has taken back his comments on religion-based political parties being banned, saying the media had misinterpreted his remarks made Sunday, reports bdnews24.com.
"The Election Commission (EC) may ban any political party whose manifesto is confrontational with the Constitution, not only a religion based or Islamic party," he told the press Monday.
After a meeting with EU Ambassador Stephan Frowein, the law minister had said, "There is no need to pass new laws to ban religion-based politics. After the Constitution is reprinted in light of the HC order, parties conflicted with the Constitution will have their registration cancelled."
On October 18, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had said the government would not ban any Islamic parties even though the Constitution had been amended. The news was published in various media, quoting several ministers.
The minister Monday after a cabinet meeting explained that every political party had to register with the EC to participate in the elections. However, after the reprinting of the Constitution, the EC would investigate whether any existing parties had a manifesto that was conflicting with the Constitution.
If such conflicts were determined, he continued, the EC would then give those parties time to amend their manifestoes. However, if the parties failed, the Commission could cancel their registration.
"My statements have been misinterpreted. This may create confusion. I did not speak of religion-based parties being banned," he claimed.
"The Election Commission (EC) may ban any political party whose manifesto is confrontational with the Constitution, not only a religion based or Islamic party," he told the press Monday.
After a meeting with EU Ambassador Stephan Frowein, the law minister had said, "There is no need to pass new laws to ban religion-based politics. After the Constitution is reprinted in light of the HC order, parties conflicted with the Constitution will have their registration cancelled."
On October 18, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had said the government would not ban any Islamic parties even though the Constitution had been amended. The news was published in various media, quoting several ministers.
The minister Monday after a cabinet meeting explained that every political party had to register with the EC to participate in the elections. However, after the reprinting of the Constitution, the EC would investigate whether any existing parties had a manifesto that was conflicting with the Constitution.
If such conflicts were determined, he continued, the EC would then give those parties time to amend their manifestoes. However, if the parties failed, the Commission could cancel their registration.
"My statements have been misinterpreted. This may create confusion. I did not speak of religion-based parties being banned," he claimed.