The Appellate Division has upheld the decision to declare the seat of MP Shahid Islam Papul, convicted abroad, vacant. The Supreme Court also upheld the order of the High Court dismissing the writ challenging the declaration of Lakshipur-2 seat vacant and the validity of the by-election there.
The six-judge full bench of the Appellate Division headed by Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain gave the order on Thursday (June 17).
In the order, the petition filed by Papul's sister and a local voter against the order of the High Court was dismissed. Barrister Rokan Uddin Mahmud and Attorney General M Amin Uddin for the state heard the petition.
Independent MP Shahid Islam Papul was convicted abroad for criminal offences. His Lakshipur-2 constituency was declared vacant as he was convicted of moral turpitude. Later, the election commission announced the by-election schedule. Papul's sister Nurunnahar Begum and Shahadat Hossain, a resident of the area, filed a writ challenging the declaration of this seat vacant and the validity of the election schedule.
