DHAKA: The appointment of two High Court judges to the International Crimes Tribunal for war-crime trial came under challenge put up through a writ petition filed with the High Court Sunday.

On March 25, the government appointed Justice Nizamul Huq Nasim chairman of the tribunal and Justice ATM Fazle Karim as member to initiate the process of a long-delayed trial of the “crimes against humanity” during the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War.

Supreme Court lawyer Advocate Nawab Ali and former secretary ASM Solayman Chowdhury filed the writ petition with the High Court bench of Justice Mamunur Rahman and Justice Syeda Afsar Jahan, challenging legality of the two appointments.

The duo petitions contended that HC judges “cannot hold any other offices of the republic”.

The HC bench fixed July 26 for hearing the petition as government counsel Assistant Attorney-General Rashed Jahangir appealed for time.

Lawyer for the plaintiffs Barrister Abdur Razzak later told reporters, “As per sections 109 and 99 of the Constitution, no High Court judge can be appointed concurrently to any other court under the High Court.”  

BDST: 1647HRS, JULY 18, 2010