Summoning of Sircar, Hamid, Delwar: JS body cannot probe corruption charges

The appearance of former Speaker Barrister Jamiruddin Sircar, Deputy Speaker Akhtar Hamid Siddiqui and former Chief Whip Khandker Delwar Hossain before the parliamentary probe committee on June 27, seems to be uncertain.
Akhtar Hamid Siddiqui talking to The New Nation said yesterday afternoon he did not receive the parliamentary sub-committee letter. The decision whether to appear before the meeting or not, he said, would depend on the contents of the letter.
Khandker Delwar Hossain is at the Coronary Care Unit (CCU) of the Birdem for treatment.
An attendant at the house of Barrister Jamiruddin Sircar said over telephone on the day that the former Speaker was out of the city.
Meanwhile, BNP Standing Committee member Barrister Moudud Ahmed ,MP said the JS body as per rules of procedure can summon the former Speaker, Deputy Speaker or the Chief Whip of the previous Parliament. He said the entire process seems to be politically motivated to harass the BNP leaders and undermine the offices of Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the Parliament.
Barrister Moudud said, “the present government should keep in mind what they are doing with the institution of Speaker or Deputy Speaker may be counterproductive in the sense that the next parliament may follow the precedent and go on accusing important people on trivial charges of irregularities.”
Former Deputy Speaker Akhtar Hamid Siddiqui said it was a matter of concern as before the finalisation of the parliamentary probe committee inquiry the contents of the report was leaked out . He said unless and until somebody is guilty of any offence no comment should be passed on anybody till the completion of the inquiry as it causes a lot of harm to the persons concerned before the case is finalised.
Barrister Moudud Ahmed said, the Parliamentary probe body itself has no prosecutor. It is the tradition that it will hand over the investigation to a specialised probe body. It was the case with the British House of Commons. They have handed over a number of cases relating to house expenses to the Scotland Yard.
Barrister Moudud said, if the legal side is to be followed the Parliamentary probe body has nothing to do. It can only deal with the moral aspect of the case.

Courtesy of The New Nation