The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court has scheduled June 1 to deliver its verdict on Jamaat-e-Islami’s appeal seeking restoration of its political party registration.
A four-member bench led by Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed made the announcement on Wednesday after hearing comprehensive arguments from both Jamaat’s legal team and the state. Jamaat was represented by Senior Advocate Ehsan Siddique and Advocate Mohammad Shishir Monir.
The case originates from a 2013 High Court ruling that declared Jamaat’s registration with the Election Commission invalid.
The Election Commission later issued a gazette on December 7, 2018, formally cancelling the party’s registration.
Jamaat filed an appeal against the High Court decision, but the Appellate Division dismissed the case in November 2023 due to the absence of its lead counsel.
However, the court restored the appeal on October 22, 2024, giving the party another opportunity to present its case.
Meanwhile, on August 1, 2024, the then Awami League-led government banned Jamaat-e-Islami and its student wing, Islami Chhatra Shibir, under Section 18(1) of the Anti-Terrorism Act, citing national security concerns.
That decision was reversed on August 28, 2024, when the Ministry of Home Affairs issued a new gazette lifting the ban.
The upcoming Supreme Court verdict is expected to have significant implications, particularly with regard to Jamaat’s potential return to active politics after years of exclusion.
