HC sets Feb 22 for hearing

The High Court has set February 22 for hearing the rule that questioned legality of the parliamentary membership of Mohammad Shahid Islam alias Kazi Papul for providing false information to the Election Commission through his affidavit.

The bench of Justice Gobinda Chandra Tagore and Justice Mohammad Ullah on Sunday set the date after the petitioner's lawyer Sheikh Awsafur Rahman prayed for early hearing on the rule.

Following a petition, the HC on August 18 last year issued the rule asking respondents to explain why the parliamentary membership of Kazi Papul, an independent lawmaker from Laxmipur-2, should not be declared illegal for providing false information to the EC. 

The petitioner told The Daily Star that the respondents are yet to place any reply to the rule before the HC.

Sheikh Awsafur Rahman earlier told The Daily Star that Papul submitted a degree pass certificate to the EC before the last parliamentary election, but he said in the affidavit that he passed master's degree.

Papul did not submit SSC and HSC certificates to the EC which is fraudulence, and therefore, he cannot hold the office of MP, the lawyer said.