SM Mizanur Rahman :The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court on Tuesday summoned Food Minister Qamrul Islam and Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque to appear before it on March 15 to clarify their comments on Chief Justice S K Sinha over the appeal hearing of Jamaat leader Mir Quasem Ali. A nine-member full bench of the Appellate Division led by Chief Justice issued the suo moto order asking the two ministers to appear before the court at 9:00am on that day to explain why contempt rule should not be brought against them.The Chief Justice said that the justices of the Supreme Court were taken into aback by the remarks of the two Ministers which were telecast. He also termed their remarks as “naked interference” in the free judiciary. The full bench of the apex court also asked the two Ministers to submit in writing their explanations over their comments a day ahead of their personal appearance.”The apex court has got stunned following the two Ministers’ disgraceful remarks. And the court considers such remarks as naked interference in the free judiciary,” Attorney General Mahbubey Alam told journalists at his office yesterday. He said, the two Ministers will have to appear on March 15 but submit their explanations a day ahead on March 14.”The rule also asked them to explain why they would not be exposed to punitive actions on contempt of charges,” Mahbubey Alam said. Earlier, Food Minister Qamrul Islam and Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque demanded resignation of the Chief Justice for his reported remarks that “the prosecution is doing politics with the trial of condemned war criminal and Jamaat-e-Islami leader Mir Quasem Ali.”The two Ministers made the demand at a roundtable discussion organised by Ekatorrer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee in the city on March 5.Earlier, on February 23, during the hearing of arguments on Mir Quasem Ali’s death row review petition, the Chief Justice purportedly expressed dissatisfaction over the activities of the prosecution and the investigation agency.Meanwhile, Law Minister Anisul Huq on Tuesday called upon all to refrain from making any statement regarding any sub-judice matter. “Supreme Court is an institution and the judges are part of it. It’s not right to comment on a case pending with the judges,” he told reporters at his Secretariat office.He said the honour of the institution is tarnished and damaged, if any comment is made about a sub judice matter. “Subsequently, the honour of the country is damaged,” Anisul Huq said. He said the country’s judiciary became stronger during the regime of the Awami League government.Talking to journalists at his Secretariat office, Food Minister Quamrul Islam on Tuesday said he would seek time to answer a contempt rule and summons as he was scheduled to leave Dhaka for Malaysia yesterday on a government trip. “I will be filing a time petition with the court through my lawyer. I shall return home within March 17,” he said.I’m respectful to the court. I will proceed on as per court order,” he said, terming his remarks about Chief Justice S K Sinha as a freedom fighter and not a member of cabinet.On Monday, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina made angry reaction on the Ministers’ comments in an unscheduled discussion at the Cabinet meeting saying the government would disown liability of any such remarks. Besides, a Supreme Court lawyer on Monday served a legal notice to the two Ministers requesting them to explain their comments about the Chief Justice over the appeal hearing of war criminal Mir Quasem Ali.
