Political Party Registration
HC questions RPO provisions
The High Court yesterday questioned the legality of amended provisions, introducing preconditions for registration of political parties, of the Representation of the People Order, 1972.
In response to a writ petition, the court also issued a rule upon the Election Commission and the government to explain in three weeks why the provisions should not be declared unconstitutional and illegal.
One precondition, among others, states that any political party must have at least one member who has been elected with the party's symbol once or at least got five percent votes of a constituency in an election after the country's independence.
The petition stated that the EC, through an October 23 circular, brought about the amendments and asked political parties to apply with it for registration by December 31 with documents fulfilling the preconditions.
The petition was recently filed by Democratic League's General Secretary Safiuddin Ahmed Moni challenging the legality of the amended provisions and stating that fulfilling such precondition in such a short time was not possible for his party.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments