'Undoubtedly a major achievement': Jamaat welcomes consensus on permanent HC benches in divisional cities
Taher criticised past abuses of presidential pardons and proposed a binding review body to prevent future misuse
The Jamaat-e-Islami has welcomed the consensus reached on establishing permanent High Court benches in divisional cities outside Dhaka, calling it "undoubtedly a major achievement."
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday after the ninth day of the second phase of dialogues conducted by the National Consensus Commission with political parties, party's Nayeb-e-Ameer Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher said, "All parties agreed the Supreme Court would remain centralised in Dhaka as per the Constitution.
"However, there was unanimous support for amending Article 100 of the Constitution to allow for permanent High Court benches outside the capital."
On judiciary
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
Taher said, "Everyone agrees that justice should be brought closer to the people. We believe that only permanent benches — not circuit benches — can address this need effectively."
The commission agreed on a new provision that would require the consent of victims' families in cases of common crimes before any pardon could be issued by the president
Taher mentioned concerns raised during the dialogue about the availability of sufficient judges and the willingness of judges and competent lawyers to operate outside Dhaka.
"Yes, initially we may have fewer judges and lawyers in the regions, but if we increase recruitment fivefold and invest in training both domestically and abroad, this won't be an issue," he said, noting that even districts like Cox's Bazar have over a hundred lawyers, many of whom already practice in the SC.
The Jamaal leader emphasised that the government must allocate a larger budget for the judiciary and ensure merit-based appointments. "If lawyers see real opportunities in their own regions, they will be willing to stay and practice, just like doctors now serve in rural areas," he said.
On presidential pardon
Taher also addressed the issue of presidential pardons, highlighting past abuses of this constitutional power.
"There have been instances where even government-recognised top criminals were pardoned by the president. To prevent such misuse, we have proposed a review body whose recommendations would be binding on the president before granting any pardon," he said.
Taher further said the commission agreed on a new provision that would require the consent of victims' families in cases of common crimes before any pardon could be issued by the president.
"For instance, if someone's father was murdered, the state or the committee must consult the legal heirs before granting a pardon to the murderer. Everyone agreed on this point," he stated, calling it a new dimension in ensuring justice and accountability.
