DHAKA: The High Court adjourned the hearing on the petition filed by Jamaat challenging the legality of some provisions of the International Crimes Tribunal Act and the first amendment to the constitution till Monday.  

An HC bench comprising Justice Mohammad Abdul Wahhub Mia and Justice Kazi Reza-Ul-Haque Monday adjourned the hearing on the crucial issue of national importance.    

Barrister Abdur Razzak and barrister Moudud Ahmed MP, filed the writ petition with the High Court of behalf of the detained Assistant secretaries-general of Jamaat-e-Islami Mohammad Kamaruzzaman and Abdul Quader Mollah on August 16, seeking its direction for suspending the ICT trial proceedings against them.

The first hearing was held on August 17.

The writ was filed challenging the legality of sections 3(1), 6(2), 6(8), 19(1), 19(3) and 20(2) of the International Crimes Tribunal Act-1973.

The writ claimed that the articles 47(3) and 47(A) of the first amendment to the constitution “curtail the fundamental rights” of prisoners of war involved in war crimes as they can only appeal to the Appellate Division and not to the High Court in the first place.

According to the writ, the articles snatched the power of HC (Judicial Review) and it is a violation of the basic structure of the constitution.

Jamaat chief Motiur Rahman Nizami, Secretary-General Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojaheed and Nayeb-e-Ameer Delwar Hossain Sayedee and assistant secretaries-general Mohammad Kamaruzzaman and Abdul Quader Mollah are now facing trial in the war-crime tribunal.

BDST: 1450 HRS, AUG 22, 2010