Committed to PEOPLE'S RIGHT TO KNOW
Vol. 5 Num 975 Mon. February 26, 2007  
   
Front Page


Govt warns political parties not to violate emergency act
It will ask them to stop making provocative statements


The government yesterday warned the political parties not to violate emergency power act rules, saying that it may not show leniency in the coming days.

The government will soon contact the political parties and ask them to refrain from making provocative statements or creating any provocative law and order situation, sources said.

Saying that some politicians and political parties are violating the provisions of emergency power act through provocative statements, Law Adviser barrister Mainul Hosein yesterday said, "Although this is causing us problems, the government is still showing tolerant attitude.

But it may not show the same in future."

He was talking to the reporters after a meeting on law and order held at the law ministry that discussed different parties' 'political activities' in the name of other functions.

Attended by Communications Adviser Maj Gen (retd) MA Matin, Education Adviser Ayub Quadri and other officials concerned, the meeting strongly criticised political statements during the Shaheed Day and International Mother Language Day, meeting sources said.

"The political leaders turned the programmes of Shaheed Day into a political one, which did not appear acceptable to the committee under the existing state of emergency," a meeting source said adding "They are not barred to hold political programmes indoors, but are prohibited to hold such programmes under cover," he added.

Talking on the political parties' allegation that 'one person' (referring to Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus) is violating the emergency rules through the declaration of forming a political party, Mainul said, "The government has not banned party politics.

..People are not even asked to refrain from criticising the caretaker government. The emergency rules have only prohibited making provocative statements and creating any provocative law and order situation."

The law adviser sought cooperation from all in their "task to free the nation from the crisis and ensure healthy politics."