It’s not Pakistan, BD PM tells CJ

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and its system has been widely ridiculed in Bangladesh for the ouster of its prime minister Nawaz Sharif through a stroke of pen by a judicial verdict. 

Bangladesh’s prime minister has dared her country’s Chief Justice (CJ), “It’s Bangladesh not Pakistan” as she seeks justice from the people. Bangladesh is in the grip of tug-of-war between the government and superior judiciary after the court annulled 16th constitutional amendment scrapping Parliament’s power to sack judges on the grounds of misconduct and incapacity. Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday said she was not scared of any threat and warned against comparing Bangladesh’s situation with Pakistan. “Everything can be tolerated, but we will not tolerate when a comparison is made with Pakistan,” said Hasina addressing a mourning rally at Krishibid Institution in the capital. She went on, “Following Pakistan’s Supreme Court verdict, somebody will threat me. I seek justice from the people for that. Why is a comparison made with the Pakistan prime minister? There is no use issuing such a threat to me.” 

BD prime minister’s remarks came a day after the chief justice, Surendra Kumar Sinha, warned that the judiciary had been patient enough, referring to a Pakistan Supreme Court order which removed Nawaz Sharif a couple of weeks ago. “We’ve seen Ayub Khan, Yahya, Zia, and Ershad.” (The earlier two were the military dictators of Pakistan when Bangladesh was part of Pakistan while the latter two military rulers of Bangladesh). So, I seek justice from the people as to why a comparison is being made with Pakistan.” Also the ruling Awami League (AL) president, Hasina came hard heavily on the Supreme Court and the chief justice apparently for a recent SC verdict that annulled 16th constitutional amendment scrapping parliament’s power to sack judges on the grounds of misconduct and incapacity. She also alleged the judiciary sided with the corrupt coterie. “You [judges] must not forget that Parliament members are the representatives of the people and the people preserve all the power. The people are the owners of the republic. Parliamentarians elect the president and that president appoints the chief justice and other judges,” observed the prime minister. “He [chief justice] should have resigned before making these observations,” she added. “There are many contradictions in the verdict [16th amendment annulment verdict]. I am scrutinising the verdict and will make comments on this issue in Parliament," said Hasina. "People's court is the biggest court; no one can ignore people's court... I'm lodging my complaint with this court... I want justice from the court of people," Sheikh Hasina said, adding that there are some sudden statements, political talks and threats coming from the higher court. 

Citing the Supreme Court observations, “MPs are criminals” and there are “businessmen” in Parliament, the prime minister said, "Doing business isn't a sin. What's the problem if any businessman becomes an MP?" Mentioning that the president, as per the constitution, appoints the prime minister and the chief justice, Hasina said the chief justice was trying to snatch the president's power. "Being appointed by the president, how can he take away the constitutional power from the president?" 

About the Supreme Judicial Council, she said the chief justice chose the system introduced by General Ziaur Rahman who “illegally grabbed power”. "The higher court declared the Zia regime illegal," she said. 

The prime minister criticised SK Sinha for blocking the Anti-Corruption Commission's probe against Justice Joynal Abedin who gave a “false and untrue report.”

Dwelling on the much-talked-about 16th amendment to the constitution, Hasina said she had doubt whether other judges of the Appellate Division had the scope of freely giving their opinions. "The chief justice might have not given them that scope," she said, adding that many things could be understood after reading the verdict. She said there were many irreverent issues in the verdict. "Those should be placed before the nation because those mislead the nation. With this, no one can get justice," she said.